The Byron Shire Echo Issue 40.08 – July 30, 2025

Byron rises to the challenge of its future

Aslan Shand

The Byron Bay community came out in force last Tuesday evening over concerns that the proposed Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) for Byron will entrench negative outcomes for the town with extended operating hours and liquor licencing for venues. The meeting room at the Byron Community Centre was filled to capacity with people being turned away.

Concerns were raised about the lack of community consultation, the potential for the SEP to exacerbate existing issues of violence, rape and sexual assault in the town, and the fact that local services such as the police, the Byron hospital emergency department and the NSW Ambulance are already stretched.

For many attendees, who have worked on previous community initiatives like ‘Last Drinks’ that were set up to reduce alcohol-related violence and antisocial behaviour in Byron Bay historically, it felt like ‘Groundhog Day’.

Key questions raised at the meeting were around how much control the community had over what was contained in the SEP, how easily it could be wound back if the community felt it didn’t work and what resources would be provided to Byron Bay in relation to lighting, transport, infrastructure and essential services.

NSW Minister for the Night-time Economy, John Graham, who is also the minister for music and various other portfolios including transport,

▶ Continued on page 6

Inaugural Lindy Hop festival swings into the Bay this October

Hop festival directors

planned for Byron Bay in October.

This October will see the inaugural Byron Bay Lindy Exchange (BBLX), a three-day swing dance festival taking place.

The festival is the brainchild of dance lovers Chrissy and Ray Keepence who started the Swing On In dance school in 1996.

They say that the festival will be a celebration of swing dancing, live music, connection, community,

and Ray

and vintage culture.

‘We invite everyone, dancers and non-dancers alike, to step back in time and soak up the joy, colour, and charisma of the swing era in the heart of Byron Bay,’ says Chrissy.

Free swing dance classes

Chrissy and Ray will also be providing free swing dance classes for locals in the lead-up to the three

-day festival on 17–19 October. The school will also continue to run its regular Thursday night classes in Mullumbimby.

‘This festival is about more than just dancing – it’s about bringing people together through music, movement, and shared joy,’ says Chrissy.

‘We want to make everyone feel welcome, whether you’re an

experienced dancer or just want to tap your toes and enjoy the atmosphere.’

The festival wil include picnics, yoga, Charleston classes and Mystery Bus tours as well as national and international dancers coming together to celebrate Lindy Hop culture.

Find out more at www.swingonin.com.au.

Lindy

Chrissy

Keepence are sharing their excitement at the upcoming Byron Bay Lindy Exchange festival they have

Photo Jeff ‘Broken Hip Hop’ Dawson

Call for collaboration to save three buy-back houses

Aslan Shand

Housing advocates, House You, are calling on Minister Janelle Saffin, Premier Chris Minns, and Mal Lanyon CEO of NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSW RA) to work with them to save three properties in Lismore and Mullumbimby prior to what they say is unnecessary eviction.

‘Creating homelessness while abandoning functional homes contradicts the NSW Labor government’s mandate to end homelessness,’ they said in a press release.

House You say they are focusing on three properties they believe can be saved through win-win collaboration.

‘These are: an unflooded home on Stuart Street, Mullumbimby that is already functioning as transitional housing despite being designated for Homes NSW transitional housing; a relocatable heritage home on Lake Street, North Lismore that has been rehabilitated with extensive food gardens and ready for First Nations-led vegetation management; and The Bridge at 17 Bridge Street, North Lismore which is operating as a

community hub serving local groups for over a decade.’

Responding to The Echo NSW RA said they have ‘worked respectfully with illegal occupants for almost a year to find a peaceful resolution’.

‘These homes were bought-back because they pose an extreme and ongoing risk to life from future floods.

The Resilient Homes Program is designed to reduce future risk to life and to assist those who were directly impacted by the 2022 floods, not to manage or fund the removal of illegal occupants,’ said a spokesperson for NSW RA.

‘We are investigating how some of these buy-back homes can be repurposed

to benefit the community in the long term. However, some houses are structurally unsound and located in areas that will continue to experience high-risk floods.’

House You said they want to work in collaboration with NSW RA to bring these homes back into use for people who are homeless and assist in maintaining them ‘until homes are ready for their next life’ either being relocated or made flood-resilient.

‘We’re seeking negotiations for an extension, we’re not preventing recovery – we’re looking after what would otherwise be empty, boardedup homes. We need solutions that work with us, not against us,’ they told The Echo

Meeting over Mullum’s three-storey housing development at town’s entrance

The development application (DA) for the proposed three-storey housing development at the entrance to Mullumbimby has been lodged. The Mullumbimby Residents Association (MRA) is holding a meeting to discuss the DA on Monday, 4 August at 6.30 pm at the Mullumbimby ExServices Club, Dalley Steet, Mullumbimby.

The MRA say that Byron Shire Council (BSC) and Lancom appear determined to go ahead with it, despite their own carpark being a much more appropriate place (it is twice the size for

one thing, so affords twice the housing).

Questions have also been raised about why the BSC, state and federal governments are not pursuing social and affordable housing on the old Mullumbimby hospital site which has a significantly larger and floodfree development footprint. Issues raised

‘At this meeting MRA will show, and explain the DA design and highlight the issues it causes for the town,’ said an MRA spokesperson.

‘These include the loss of town parking and a public

toilet, the potential loss of two food businesses and damage to other nearby businesses, major traffic issues during construction and after (residents’ access to the building will be via McGoughans Lane), the flood impact on adjacent properties, and the precedent for three-storey building in a basically one-storey heritage-listed town.

‘Councillors and mayors come and go, but this monolith will be a permanent legacy imposed on our town, right at its entrance. This is your last chance to have your say about it,’ they said.

Artist’s impression of the proposed flats. Image 3D Luis Cristia Design

House You advocates in Mullum calling for collaboration with NSW RA to save three houses. Photo Jeff Dawson

‘All I Wanna Do is Get High’ wins songwriting comp

Paul Bibby

Mullumbimby singer-songwriter Sara Yael was enjoying a quiet end-of-the-week moment last Friday when she learned she had won the Bay Sounds songwriting competition.

‘I was soaking up the last bit of the sun with my guitar and my dog and a cold beer,’ she says.

‘I thought it definitely wasn’t going to be me who won… It was just really surreal to be honest.

‘Then my phone started ringing.’

And it seems that Ms Yael’s phone is destined to continue ringing over the coming weeks after her song

‘All I Wanna Do is Get High’ was chosen as the winning entry, guaranteeing her a month of regular airplay.

‘This is new fuel to the fire for me,’ says Ms Yael, who has performed across Australia and beyond during a wild and varied 15-year music career.

‘Being an independent artist, you’re basically doing everything yourself and it takes a lot of motivation to do all that hustle.

‘I’ve taken a bit of a break from all of that recently. This award is going to get me back on the wagon… applying for festivals and doing all of that.’

As the first-place winner in the competition, Ms Yael will have her song recorded and mastered at SAE’s

state-of-the-art studio, a live performance at the SAE Open Day on August 16, four weeks of guaranteed airplay and exclusive mentorship from MusicNSW.

‘I’m really chuffed about all of it and particularly the mentorship,’ she says.

‘It’s great to get the recognition.’

Surviving lockdown

Ms Yael has explored many different genres during the course of her career so far, from hip-hop to folk to blues and soul pop ballads.

Her winning competition entry ‘All I Wanna Do is Get High’ is a catchy and irreverent pop number that she wrote during the Melbourne lockdown.

‘It’s a song about escapism,’ she says.

‘It’s about how everyone has their own vices

North Coast Tourism Symposium in Byron Bay this Thursday

Byron Bay Theatre will host the 2025 North Coast Tourism Symposium on Thursday, 31 July.

Organised by Destination North Coast in collaboration with Byron Shire Council, the symposium will allow industry leaders, innovators and stakeholders from across the North Coast to explore the theme: Inspire! Shaping Tomorrow’s Visitor Economy.

The event aims to highlight the innovative, entrepreneurial and sustainable practices transforming the region’s tourism landscape.

Keynote speaker Mark Bouris AM will open with insights on innovation in business, followed by expert-led sessions on AI and market trends. Highlights will include an

update on DNSW’s NSW First program, a presentation by Tourism Australia tying national strategy to the North Coast and powerful grassroots stories from local tourism operators.

Future planning

In light of the proposed Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) for Byron Bay some locals are calling for a commitment to a strategy and Destination Management Plan along with sustainable funding rather than being drip-fed grants.

The symposium will run from 9am to 4pm on Thursday and tickets are on sale now. Get involved and find out more at: www.dncnsw.com/2025symposium-program.

– different ways that they choose to tap out.

‘Olivia Rodrigo had been inspiring me a lot at the time… her way of telling stories through song… this kind of teenage, bratty, pop’.

It is a tribute to Ms Yael’s creative versatility that the song stands in clear contrast to her more recent work: a soulful folk EP entitled Live from the Knoll.

‘Live from the Knoll was just me, a mic and my dog,’ she says. ‘It’s super sweet acoustic folk songs.’

Only time will tell what creative path Ms Yael chooses next, but the Bay Sounds songwriting award will undoubtedly help her along the way.

Live show

Inspired by the competition win, Ms Yael is putting on an intimate live show

on August 10 in Mullumbimby. Tickets and other information can be found at trybooking.com/events/ landing/1443705

Bay Sounds came about as a way of unearthing hidden talent in the region.

It is geared toward unsigned, original songwriters of all genres, and aims to give them an opportunity to be heard by a wide and appreciative audience.

This year Bay Sounds also featured a youth category, with dozens of amazing young musicians submitting their offerings.

The winner was 15-yearold Seraph Hrubus from Cape Byron Steiner School and his song ‘Street Lights’.

To learn more about Seraph and his music, look out for next week’s Echo where he will feature in a standalone article.

Final call for BBFF entries

The Byron Bay Film Festival (BBFF) will be celebrating its 19th edition from October 17–26 and entries are still open in two standout categories. The categories are Best Music Video and the Screenplay Contest with a special extended deadline of 31 August.

The BBFF Screenplay Contest is one of the few screenplay competitions run in conjunction with a major Australian film festival.

It’s open to feature-length scripts (80–120 pages) in any genre, with a $1,000 cash prize for the winner.

Festival Director Jaimee Skippon Volke says both categories reflect BBFF’s commitment to creativity and risk-taking.

‘Music videos and screenplays are where some of the most exciting creative work begins,’ she said.

Submit entries now at www.bbff.com.au/submissions.

loxandchain.com.au

Sara Yael, winner of the Bay Sounds songwriting competition. Photo Jeff Dawson

Newrybar streetscape plan formally adopted New location for Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital

Paul Bibby

It hasn’t been the easiest time for the hinterland town of Newrybar of late.

The sudden closure of the much-loved Harvest restaurant and deli late last year put a dent in the town’s economy that is still being felt by many.

But there was some good news for Newrybar last week with the formal adoption of a new streetscape plan for the village.

The Newrybar Village Centre Streetscape Masterplan, unanimously adopted by Ballina Council, paves the way for a revitalisation of the town centre.

The plan was developed by a team of landscape architects and community engagement specialists, in consultation with stakeholders and the community.

The overall vision is for Newrybar to be a ‘welcoming and vibrant village where character, community and creativity flourish’.

In this vision the town is also an ‘intimate, walkable destination that honours its artisanal spirit,

The vision is for a ‘welcoming and vibrant village where character, community and .’

local produce, and deep connection to the natural landscape’.

As a key step in achieving this, the main street of the town is set to become a one-way slow-speed zone, thus allowing space on either side for a continuous footpath, seating, and additional shade trees.

Pedestrian safety

This was in keeping with one of the key goals of the plan, which was to enhance pedestrian movement and safety, using traffic-calming measures, improved crossings, and wider footpaths. There will also be special ‘gateway treatments’ at the entrance and exit to the town, and the construction of a bus stop.

Parking in the town is also set to get a muchneeded overhaul, making for a smoother experience

for locals and visitors alike.

A central theme that emerged during the consultation period was that people really valued Newrybar’s village feel, including its heritage-style architecture. One submitter even suggested that the main street might be made horsefriendly or have stables introduced.

They also wanted to create more public open space and amenities, strengthen community connection and activation, and celebrate Newrybar’s artisanal and agricultural identity.

One issue that the community did not agree on was the location of the village’s Rural Fire Service building.

While the RFS wants the building to retain its central location, others want it moved out of the centre of the town in order to better retain the heritage feel of the main street.

With the streetscape plan completed, Ballina Council will now step up the search for funding so that it can become a reality.

Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital (BBWH), the only all-species wildlife hospital between Sydney and the Gold Coast, is celebrating the upcoming opening of its new Lennox Head branch on Monday, 11 August.

‘As demand for our services continues to grow, we’ve simply outgrown our current space,’ said BBWH General Manager Veterinary Services, Dr Bree Talbot.

‘With increasing wildlife admissions, we are now operating at full capacity. The new fixed location hospital will provide us with the additional room, resources, and infrastructure needed to care for more patients, more effectively, every day.’

The BBWH mobile wildlife hospital, known as ‘Matilda’, will remain colocated at the Byron Bay Wildlife

Sanctuary (previously known as Macadamia Castle) at Knockrow. Matilda is Australia’s only mobile wildlife hospital that is dedicated for field work, research, community education and rapid response assistance to wildlife impacted by natural disasters.

10,000th patient

‘We are deeply grateful to the benefactors who have made this possible,’ said BBWH Founder and CEO Dr Stephen Van Mil.

Recently, BBWH treated its 10,000th patient, a shortbeaked echidna found riddled with ticks, broken quills, hair loss and conjunctivitis.

The veterinary team’s knowledge, skills and expertise in the unique physiology of a diversity of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians is

instrumental in giving them a second chance at survival in the wild.

‘We are indebted to our veterinary team for their skills and compassion, but also their patience and endurance as we worked behind the scenes to secure our new home,’ said Dr Van Mil.

Under its parent organisation Wildlife Recovery Australia, Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital will operate across three dedicated sites in the Northern Rivers:

• Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital (HQ), Lennox Head

• Byron Bay Raptor Recovery Centre (BBRRC), Ewingsdale

• Wildlife Recovery Australia Hospital (‘Matilda’), Knockrow

The new facility is located at Unit 7/48 Ballina Steet, Lennox Head.

BBWH Founder and CEO Dr Stephen Van Mil. Photo Jeff Dawson

Celebrating two of Byron Bay’s centenarians

Byron Bay rises to the challenge of its future

▶ Continued from page 1

was in town for the Regional and Remote Music Summit following the meeting, and responded to many of the concerns raised when speaking on Bay FM’s Community Newsroom on Friday.

Mr Graham told Community Newsroom journalist Mia Armitage that a SEP wasn’t ‘something in any way’ the government wanted ‘to impose on communities’.

Bill and Gwen were living it up at Byron Bay Services Club last Thursday. Photo Jeff Dawson War veteran Bill Nolan and war widow Gwen Wright celebrated their 100th birthdays at a morning tea held by the Byron Bay subbranch at Byron Bay Services Club last Thursday.

In 1950 Gwen married Gordon Wright who fought in WWII and then worked as a builder in Byron Bay. Bill joined the RAAF for the war and was part of the

They were both born in 1925 with Gwen growing up in Byron Bay and Bill growing up in Home Hill and Townsville.

Signals Unit 112 MFCU mobile field control.

Bill and Gwen were both thrilled to receive letters from King Charles and Queen Camilla as well as the Australian Governor General to celebrate their landmark birthdays.

Richmond MP Justine Elliot calls for end to war in Gaza

Australia has joined 28 other nations calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and a lifting of all restrictions on food and medical supplies.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong joined the other nations in a joint statement saying:

‘The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. The Israeli government’s aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of

NSW Health Pathology

human dignity […] It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid.’

Labor Richmond MP Justine Elliot has reiterated the statement telling The Echo that, ‘As the prime minister has said, the situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world’s worst fears. The position of the Australian government is clear: every innocent life matters.’

‘We reiterate our call for an

Medical Laboratory Assistant Pathology Collector / Phlebotomist

Location: Casino & District Memorial Hospital, Lismore and Ballina

Employment Type: Temporary Full-Time up to January 2026 with potential for ongoing employment

Technical Assistant Grade 2

Remuneration: $61,889.52 to $64,260.00 pa plus superannuation

For role related queries or questions contact: Christopher Nicol on Christopher.Nicol@health.nsw.gov.au

Closing Date: 29 July 2025 at 11:59pm

NSW Health Pathology are seeking a temporary full-time Phlebotomist to work with our blood collection team. The position is primarily based at the Casino & District Memorial Hospital, but you may also be required to work across multiple sites including Ballina and Lismore.

• Eligible for a Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme allowance of up to $5,000 plus super per annum in addition to award entitlements.

Working closely with our Pre-Analytical Team, you will also have the opportunity to learn data entry and other key skills, to assist in the processing of specimens in preparation for the laboratory departments to complete their testing.

Applications must be lodged electronically at iworkfor.nsw.gov.au and search Job Reference Number REQ590864

immediate and permanent ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages. We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of Hamas and its ongoing acts of terror.

‘Gaza is in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe. Israel’s denial of aid and the killing of civilians, including children, seeking access to water and food is indefensible,’ she said.

‘We call on Israel to comply immediately with its obligations under international law.

‘This includes allowing the United Nations and NGOs to carry out their life saving work safely and without hindrance.’

‘This is a way of collaborating with communities but if the community is not driving it, then it just won’t work, that’s the starting principle here.’

The minister said the current funding of $162,000 that the Byron Shire Council (BSC) has received wasn’t contingent on the trial going ahead.

He reiterated that should the community decide it didn’t want to proceed with a trial, the government ‘wouldn’t want to press ahead’.

‘Secondly, if it did proceed, we’d go to a trial stage,’ Mr Graham said. ‘If we get to the end of that and it doesn’t work, we don’t want to make it permanent at that stage’.

‘If the council is not on board, if the community is not on board, it’s stopping there.’

Bryon Shire Councillor Asren Pugh told the meeting that the process of the SEP would allow the BSC to clarify conflicting issues around opening hours and liquor licensing which are currently set by a range of different licensing bodies.

The 24-Hour Commissioners Office clarified with The Echo that, ‘The SEP precinct management plan will

override trading hours on development consents but not liquor licences – those trading hours will still apply.

‘However, live music and performance venues in a SEP can apply to Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) for extended liquor trading hours, provided they meet certain conditions. While the Council will set sound conditions for the SEP, any other liquor licence conditions, including those that have been applied due to a venue’s compliance history, will not change. L&GNSW also continues to regulate venue compliance, including noise and disturbance.’

Need to revitalise the town

The Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce President, Matt Williamson, told the meeting that what they are interested in ‘is increasing the vibrancy of the town during the day and into the evening’.

‘We’ve got empty shops and restaurants that are only busy on Friday and Saturday nights and not any other time. We have to look at what we can do with this,’ he

told the meeting.

Matt highlighted the current challenges that businesses, and people wanting to put on events, face and said that the SEP was an opportunity to bring vibrancy back into the town centre with less red tape.

Minister Graham agreed when speaking to Bay FM saying, ‘existing regulations and approval time-frames for endeavours such as outdoor dining, live music, later operating hours, liquor licences and micro festivals made the process “too hard” and this is one of the ways we’re trying to make it easier.’

Local businessman, real estate agent and founding member of the Byron Writers Festival, Chris Hanley, who helped organise the meeting, reminded the community that to move forward positively, with or without the SEP, the community needs to come together to determine what is the right way forward for Byron Bay.

‘It is tough running a business in this town at the moment for all businesses,’ he said.

‘We all love this place and it is worth fighting for.’

There was standing room only at last Tuesday’s meeting in Byron Bay about the proposed SEP. Photo Aslan Shand

The Saddle Road to become industrial precinct

Paul Bibby

A picturesque greenfield site in Brunswick Heads is a step closer to becoming a bustling industrial and employment precinct with the submission of a key development application in relation to the project.

The sloping rural site at 66 The Saddle Road will have a combination of light industrial and live/work dwellings.

Earlier this month the developer behind the project – Gulgan Road Property Pty Ltd – submitted the first of many development applications (DAs). The DA is now open for public comment until 5 August.

The application seeks consent for a five-lot subdivision covering a 52-hectare swathe of the site.

Four of the five lots will be set up for houses while the fifth will be for industrial uses.

Flood-prone lots

Each lot will have its own driveway accessing either The Saddle Road, Gulgan Road or both.

The Statement of Environmental Effects completed as part of the application

indicates that three of the lots are either flood-prone or partly flood-prone. But this risk will apparently be ameliorated by strategic planning.

The consultants hired to undertake the assessment, Planners North, conclude that the development application was ‘permissible’ under current planning legislation.

‘In our opinion, the development can be seen to satisfy a legitimate need for subdivision and is capable of use in a manner that mitigates potential adverse impacts consistent with the zone objectives...’ the consultants stated.

‘The approval of the

proposed development would be in the public interest.’

The plans are part of the broader project (as set out in an already-approved planning proposal) to create a business and industrial precinct at the site.

This would include a business park and a traditional industrial area, with some land designated for work/live dwellings.

This is, in turn, part of an even larger project known as the ‘Gulgan North (Area 5) project’ under Byron Shire Council’s Business and Industrial Lands Strategy.

This will see large parts of the entire The Saddle Road precinct developed

Mullum’s Friday baby clothes swap needs volunteers

It began to distribute furniture, food, clothing, gumboots, nappies and countless other mother/baby supplies to flood-affected families across the Northern Rivers in 2022, but what remained were boxes and boxes of perfectly good pre-loved baby clothing.

The baby and children’s clothing kept being donated for redistribution so the Pregnancy Birth and Byron (PBB) media team decided to keep this part of the outreach program going with a free weekly baby clothes swap in Mullum every Friday (except school holidays) from 10am to midday at Mullumbimby CWA.

The Mullumbimby CWA branch were on board. CWA President Sue Constable and Secretary Jenny Barlow immediately recognised the relevance of supporting young families from the hall, which is located on the corner of Tincogan and Gordon Streets.

‘I used to bring my kids here for their early childhood checks,’ said Jenny. ‘It just makes sense.’

The project has inspired two more clothes swaps at Evans Head, Lennox Head.

A fourth, in Lismore will be launching from their library on 9 August.

‘All these clothes swaps have started with initial boxes of donations from our clothes swap here at Mullum,’ said Sally Cusack, who now runs the clothing hub.

Volunteers needed

However, in spite of the community support, the clothes swap is running very low on volunteers.

‘The housing shortage here has recently led to three more of our volunteers having to leave the area completely,’ said Sally.

The Outreach Hub relies solely on volunteers, but they

all value the contact with the families so much. ‘I just love it,’ said Kat Cooper, pregnancy massage therapist and the longest serving volunteer with the hub.

‘It’s so nice to create this space for families to come together, make new friends and head home with some really useful items for their kids.’

If you feel called to help out at the hub and have one spare Friday morning per month, the team would love to hear from you. No experience needed, just a love of mums and bubs (and folding tiny clothes). Email sally@pbbmedia.org to find out more.

Drone shot of 66 The Saddle Road. Photo supplied

Banjo has found a new friend. Photo Jeff Dawson

North Coast News

Celebrating excellent nurses and midwives

News from across the North Coast online

Widespread rainfall forecast for the northern NSW coastline

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) is encouraging communities to be aware of their surroundings as widespread rainfall is forecast for the northern coastline later this week and could cause flash flooding and some renewed riverine rises.

New fire trucks for Lismore electorate

New fire trucks have been delivered to the Lismore state electorate in time for the next bushfire season.

Sharpes Beach carpark closed for upgrades

Ballina’s existing Sharpes Beach carpark is closed owing to work on a new one.

The Ballina Shire Council is encouraging beachgoers to use an alternative carpark on the western side of The Coast Road, accessible via Headlands Drive.

Tweed Shire Council regains flood cover

The devastating scale and damage of the 2022 floods changed Council’s insurance risk profile, resulting in the loss of flood cover, leaving ratepayers exposed to financial impacts of further flooding events.

Three charged following armed robbery at a Robina

It will be alleged that around 10.10pm, three males attended a property on Parkmore Close. One, who was known to the 17-year-old occupant, was allegedly armed with a machete and demanded money.

24/7 policing for Murwillumbah

MP Janelle Saffin says the Labor Government is delivering a key election commitment of 24/7 policing at the Murwillumbah Station in four phases of budget allocations and recruitment.

Up to seven years jail for unlicenced tobacco sellers

The NSW Government says it will introduce tough new laws to crackdown on the sale of illicit tobacco and illegal vaping goods across the state.

www.echo.net.au www.echo.net.au

Leaving scrubs behind and tucking their angel wings into street threads, hundreds of deserving nurses and midwives gathered at the Ballina RSL recently for the 2025 Northern NSW Local Health District Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards.

This year’s winners were chosen from a list of more than 150 outstanding nominations, sent in by colleagues, as well as patients and members of the public in the case of the Healing Heart category.

Divided into eight categories to align with NSW Health’s state-wide awards, the annual awards showcase the incredible contribution nurses and midwives make to healthcare across Northern NSW.

Compassion, commitment, dedication and resilience

Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) Director of District Nursing and Midwifery Katharine Duffy thanked every nurse and midwife in the district for their professionalism and

‘From those in their careers, to those celebrating a lifetime of service, the contribution our nurses and midwives make to healthcare in our region is remarkable.’

– NNSWLHD Director of District Nursing and

O’Sullivan, After Hours Nurse Manager, Casino and District Memorial Hospital.

commitment to ensure the needs of patients are met every day.

‘From those just starting off in their careers, to those celebrating a lifetime of service, the contribution our nurses and midwives make to healthcare in our region is remarkable,’ she said.

‘Through their compassion, commitment, dedication and resilience, our

nurses and midwives provide excellent care to our patients – young and old – every day – delivering high-quality healthcare across our hospitals and facilities in Northern NSW.

‘Congratulations to every staff member nominated as part of this year’s awards.’

The 2025 winners in each category are:

• New to Practice Nurse or Midwife of the Year – Tommy Mull-Mathers, Tweed Valley Hospital Emergency Department.

• Aboriginal Nurse or

Midwife of the Year – Nikkita Johnson, Grafton Base Hospital, Medical Ward.

• Nursing or Midwifery Team of the Year – Kamala Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit, Lismore.

Nurse of the Year

Joanna Martin, Indigo House, Integrated Prevention and Response to Violence Abuse and Neglect, Lismore.

Midwife of the Year

Jess Baxter, Midwifery Group Practice, Tweed Valley Hospital.

• Brown Ackerman Leadership Award – Jenae

• Lifetime Achievement Award – Narelle Gleeson, Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Lismore Base Hospital.

Joint winners

• Healing Hearts Consumer Recognition Award

Joint winner – Nigel Watts, Intensive Care Unit, Lismore Base Hospital

Joint winner – Sarah Hendrikse, Tweed BreastScreen Highly commended –Emergency Department, Casino and District Memorial Hospital – (award received by Shanette Lowe and Shania Carter on behalf of CDMH).

Even though ‘winners’ were announced – we know they are ALL angels.

Study: What do new mums want?

New mums can let the health sector know what they need in a new study by Southern Cross University – researchers are inviting mothers across Australia to participate in exploring how key relationships impact perinatal wellbeing in the first year after birth.

SUNDAY 3 AUGUST

8am–2pm

The study is led by Bachelor of Psychological Science with Honours student Natalie Joy, under the supervision of Adjunct Fellow in the Faculty of Health Dr Julia Marsden.

‘Perinatal wellbeing is a dynamic and deeply personal experience — it encompasses the physical, emotional, social, and relational changes women navigate as they transition into motherhood,’ said Dr Marsden.

‘Through this study, we hope to better understand how close relationships influence that journey, so we can help ensure support is more holistic, personalised, and

truly responsive to women’s needs.’

Many women experience emotional, social and psychological challenges in the first year after birth, however, support systems are often inconsistent or poorly tailored to their needs.

According to the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) and the Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA), around one in five mothers experience anxiety during the perinatal period and ten per cent experience depression.

‘This study shines a spotlight on a critical but often overlooked aspect of maternal mental health,’ said Dr Marsden. ‘While anxiety and depression are rightly recognised as serious concerns, we also need to better understand what supports mothers to thrive – not just avoid distress. By exploring how close relationships and attachment styles shape

perinatal wellbeing, this project could help identify protective factors and early warning signs, ultimately guiding more personalised and preventative approaches to care during the first year postpartum.’

Recruitment for the study is open now.  The anonymous online survey takes around 15-20 minutes and is open to Australian mothers aged 18 and above, who are within the first 12 months postpartum, have lived in Australia for two or more years, and are English-speaking.

Participants go into the draw to win one of four $50 gift vouchers.

To participate in the survey, visit: tinyurl.com/ SCUPerinatalStudy. This study has been approved by the Southern Cross University Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval number: 2025/114).

Winners from the NNSWLHD Nurses and Midwives Excellence Awards are – Sarah Hendrikse, Tommy Mull-Mathers, Shanette Lowe, Shania Carter, Nikkita Johnson, Jenae O’Sullivan and Nigel Watts. Photo supplied

In conversation with writer and artist, Kirli Saunders

Proud Gunai Woman Kirli Saunders (OAM) is an awardwinning multidisciplinary poet and singer-songwriter.

Beyond the Lines and cultural storytelling at

Your poems in Eclipse talk about culture, love and identity. What message do you hope readers take away from the book?

magic ones too.

Poetry, comics and dinner parties of a different kind

You’ve said the book shows both happy between light and dark in your writing?

The theme for Byron Writers

is Passion and Purpose. How do you personally define passion and purpose, and how do

See Kirli Saunders on Saturday at the

• Poetry Walk

• Beyond the Lines

Festival

Australian Poetry Slam

Rachael Williams free festival event

Grantlee Kieza Mick O’Regan Friends of Libraries Byron Shire Bangalow CWA

Rachael WilliamsGrantlee KiezaIta Mehrotra

The nuclear distraction:

While the Coalition’s attempt to win the nation over on the promise of nuclear power was unsuccessful, it nonetheless has drawn attention to the fact that ordinary Australians are not as opposed to nuclear power as perhaps they ought to be.

Nuclear does have advantages in relation to reduced atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions, and health impacts from air pollution compared to fossil fuel power stations. Certainly consumer cost cannot be the motivating factor as nuclear is 1.5 to 2.5 times more expensive than that of firmed renewables.

Chief among the attractions to nuclear power is the need for energy security and we can be certain that the Coalition party rooms were not moved by the IPCC finding that it is ‘unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land’.

Almost all of us quietly rely on Australia’s energy security and don’t have to worry about rolling brownouts. We like our comfort and don’t want to lose it.

‘What bloody good are renewables when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining?’ you might well ask. And here is the clincher, like so many other areas of life, it lies in diversity; diversity of location and type.

Technical barriers to Australia achieving secure, reliable power from a very high proportion of renewable electricity simply do not exist as has consistently been found by CSIRO and AEMO. Granted

the final few percentage points of energy security are hard to achieve and nuclear is not the only option in that context; we can foresee using pumped hydro, thermal storage, battery storage or even gas peakers.

There was a time when nuclear may have been the answer to the need to urgently decarbonise the sector in Australia but that was 20 years ago. If a nuclear facility were approved today it is widely accepted that planning and construction takes 15 years in full democracies, and requires hard-todevelop skills and experience that we just don’t have in Australia.

We haven’t even begun to talk about the hazards of nuclear waste but suffice to say there are several destinations that no tourist will be visiting any time soon.

It is hard to imagine why we would choose, as a nation, to entertain the prospect of investing in an energy source that is more expensive and more risk-laden, confers no special benefit that cannot be achieved through other means.

The cheerful smiling sun face of ‘Nuclear Power? No Thanks’ has lost none of its power.

Ewan Willis, guest editorial

The envoy thinks she’s Trump

Jillian Segal’s Plan to Combat Antisemitism is the most dangerous document I’ve read in many years. It is beyond comprehension how or why such a flimsy, misguided, unsupported rant ever found its way into public discourse with governmental approval. Now that it has, I’m going to join the chorus that condemns its proposals, and my narrow focus will be on universities and academic funding.

The Plan is framed by a statement that all Australian governments and agencies are required to adopt the broadest possible definition of antisemitism, one that specifically, and deliberately includes criticism of Israel. It has been comprehensively discredited not least by its lead author.

One of the ‘illustrative examples’ adopted in the Plan is that antisemitism includes ‘drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis’.

What were the policies of the Nazis? Genocide, ethnic cleansing, the creation of ghettos for civilians, annexation of neighbouring lands in breach of international law, limitation on foreign media, disinformation and propaganda, religious nationalism, holding perceived enemies without trial, killing children, starvation as a tool of oppression, among others. Indeed, the words genocide, holocaust, ghetto, ‘never again’ and concentration camp used in the vernacular without further explanation are assumed to be referring to Nazi policies and actions. In Australia, the Zionist movement describes accusing Israel of genocide as a ‘blood libel’.

So, according to the envoy, using these terms with reference to Israel is itself antisemitic. That is completely absurd, which is why the envoy has been accused of deliberately choosing a discredited definition in the full knowledge that it will, and is designed to, shut down criticism of Israel. And this accusation, on her definition, amounts to antisemitism too. This is reminiscent of a catch-22 sandwiched with a Kafkaesque dilemma. This Plan has nothing to do with deterring real antisemitism. Gosh, if they use that definition no wonder the

‘This Plan has nothing to do with deterring real antisemitism.’

David Heilpern

number of antisemitic occurrences is mushrooming.

So, guess who (apart from me) would be antisemitic on that basis? Let’s start with the head of the Red Cross, who said that Israel was not above international law relating to genocide. Amnesty International, various United Nations organs, The International Court of Justice, Médecins Sans Frontières and Human Rights Watch all use key Nazi policy terms applied to Israel.

Countless leading Israeli organisations, media, and even ex-prime minister Ehud Olmert have accused the Jewish state of planning a concentration camp. Our ex-foreign minister Bob Carr calls Gaza a ghetto. All antisemitic.

But here’s the real sting in the tail. The envoy, herself, in full headmistress mode, will complete an annual report card on universities, and will work with government to cut funding to universities and individual academics who engage in, enable, or facilitate antisemitic speech.

Let’s not teach international law at all, because how could you deal with current affairs without asking students to express a view on whether Israel is committing war crimes? Or breaching human rights? Or building concentration camps? Or argue that the international court is correct on plausible genocide. I think the very existence of the UN will have to be written out of law curriculum, lest some bigoted student dare suggest that the special rapporteur is right.

This is akin to Trump cutting off funding to Columbia University, which in the hope of maintaining government support is disgracing itself with obsequious crawling and expulsion of students. Harvard is standing firm, rolling the dice in court – brave or stupid?

Staggeringly, the envoy’s approach is enthusiastically

endorsed by sandstone Jewish organisations. Don’t they realise that the rest of the community is laughing behind their backs saying that the overreaction and overreach is so, well, precious?

Everyone agrees that real antisemitism, Jew hating, is of course to be condemned, but muting dissent to protect the sensitivities of a few Jewish uni students who might feel uncomfortable is nothing in comparison to burning, starving, and bombing babies. First, they came for the antisemitics. Then they came for the Jews.

I believe that if anyone is silent in the face of genocide they are complicit. Well, if I keep speaking my mind and agree with international courts and charities and agencies, I guess my university will lose money and my funding will dry up.

And it’s not just universities the envoy wants to see punished for anti-Israel rhetoric – visa applicants will be screened, artists and writers scrutinised, non-citizen (residents) arrested and deported. Just like Trump.

There is no realm of Australian life that will not be subject to this deeply flawed framework, often with the gatekeeper being the Queen (oops envoy) herself.

Josh Burns MP recently wrote, ‘It is not up to those outside the Jewish community to tell us what is and isn’t antisemitism’. Really? I call complete bullshit on that – words actually have an objective meaning, and it’s not for supposed victims to determine the elements which constitute the crime. Besides, the Jewish community is not some homogenous behemoth.

So here goes. Listening Josh and Jillian?

It is genocide. It is a war crime. It is ethnic cleansing. So sue me.

If they could see Byron Bay: you know you’ve made it when a construction firm lights up a huge crane all night advertising their company.

Just what a town needs: high-rise neon advertising. Surely a DA is required for this. If and when one arises, be sure to oppose it.

G Graham Byron Bay

Batteries ridiculously

This is why the grid-connected batteries are ridiculously expensive: the people who are importing have to pay 15 to 30 thousand dollars to get their battery certified and that goes onto the price of the batteries to the consumer. The subsidies that the government gives to the buyer are just a little trickle to make people think that they’re getting a good deal.

Some people prefer to get ‘off the grid’ and can find excellent top-quality Australian made batteries that only cost $3,740. The certified batteries are somewhere between $6,000 and $16,000.

The Clean Energy Council (CEC) charges an application fee for its Battery Assurance Program. It usually ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 per model, depending on complexity and documentation. Then you follow the gravy train of testing and certification: you’ll need to provide independent lab results (IEC or JAS-ANZ accredited), which can cost $10,000 to $30,000 depending on the battery chemistry and configuration.

You’re paying for: engineering technical assessment (yes it’s definitely a battery!); safety and compliance verification (yes it’s definitely got a battery management system!); listing on the CEC’s Approved Products List (where did we put that keyboard?); and eligibility for federal and state rebates (like the NSW VPP incentive and Cheaper Home Batteries Program) – yes, try to make it sound generous. Application processing can take only 2-6 months.

Incomplete documentation or missing test results will delay approval, during afternoon tea in the common room.

And best of all – fees must be paid upfront before assessment begins. How’s that for a disgusting gravy train? It’s time to get off the grid because we are in a climate emergency.

There is no time to waste with bureaucrats and officials ripping off money that should be charging solar power in millions of homes now.

Sapoty Brook Main Arm

Heartfelt congratulations and thanks to all involved in the recent Mullum Roots Festival. I travelled from Armidale to help my daughter and sonin-law (with their little ones) as they were performing and therefore got the chance to spend time seeing many artists and experience the warm ambience.

There were many highlights and your community was truly buzzing. I boarded the Love Bus several times with my grandchildren as we hummed about town and their smiles were wide. The friendly driver in his safari suit was a delight.  Highlights were many. Apart from the joy of seeing my daughter perform on a violin made by her father, I loved seeing and hearing artists across genres. The

Letters to the Editor

Send to Letters Editor Eve Jeffery, fax: 6684 1719 email:editor@echo.net.au Deadline:Noon, Friday.

Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. Letters already published in other papers will not be considered. Please include your full name, address and phone number for verification purposes. Letters edited for length will be able to be read in full (if a reasonable length) in The Echo online at: www.echo.net.au/letters. The Echo is committed to providing a voice for our whole community. The views of letter writers are their own and don’t represent the owners or staff of this publication.

big and smaller acts that fill a program were all a welcome joy. If I had to pick one moment that truly was a highlight amongst highlights it was Shane Howard and guests on their extended version of ‘Solid Rock’. It was exciting and uplifting and a reminder we truly are living on sacred ground. The winds of change are in our hands.  I look forward to next year’s festival already. Thank you so much.

Francesca Stahlut   Armidale

While Falun Gong practitioners are being cut up alive so their organs can be sold for transplants, while there is a modern day holocaust against the Uyghurs of East Turkestan and the Tibetans, while their culture, identity, history, religion and countries are being obliterated, Albanese is wining and dining with the Chinese dictator responsible for it all – Xi. Is he also forgetting the Chinese Communists are financing the Russian war against Ukraine by buying Russian oil?

We should recognise the Chinese Communist Party for what it is: a terrorist organisation.

Bob Vinnicombe Sefton

remembered

My memory tells me that the large number of Green councillors in Byron Council today is not a new thing. Memory however is a strange thing. It does play tricks on you. My memory tells me that the Greens in Australia began with impeccable environmental and communitybased ideals.

Bob Brown and Ian Cohen both put their bodies on the line for their beliefs. Floating the Franklin in a rubber raft or grabbing the bow of a moving warship with one

hand, while holding onto your surfboard with the other, convinced some of us that the Greens put their beliefs into action. In my memory Greens take action, even when it threatens their personal survival. Action which immediately expresses their core beliefs. They invariably sought endorsement from the party membership and the local community for their actions. That sealed the deal for my memory. Go Greens!

But, memory does trick you, or maybe the Greens have tricked me, or maybe the memories of today’s Greens have tricked them. Tricked them into believing that they should be more concerned about land development than saving the environment, more concerned about corporate power and their own power than local power; more concerned about their own personal political futures than environmental, grass root and local community issues.

The bright lights of boomtown Byron Bay. Photo G Graham

WILDLIFE NEED YOUR HELP

The issues that originally defined them, but for all of their years in Council their solution to the rising costs of local infrastructure maintenance and creeping development (driven mainly by forces from outside the Shire either from visitors, tourist agencies or developers), has been a poor one. Without referencing the ideals that launched their party, or the local voters who put them in power, their solutions have invariably been (typically after being swayed by unelected influences) to make the local community pay for it.

Pay either by lost public amenity through the support of poorly conceived developments, or by direct charges to local ratepayers for service demands mainly from non ratepayers. Pay to park in visitor-congested mayhem, even if you are a ratepayer – is this what they mean by ‘think globally and act locally’? Think of the traffic mess of Jonson St in Byron that has followed the Mercato approval. The precedent of high-density building is now being replicated up and down Jonson St, with the ensuing traffic problems and demands on water and sewerage. Remember Byron Council bought into the false

corporate message: ‘…it will be the first regional shopping centre to achieve a 5-star green rating!’ The developers made their money and walked away to leave the community to wear the mess. Where are the open spaces and community enhancements that were inferred by the 5-star green rating? From recent comments in The Echo, similar endorsement of poor developments are still being supported by our Green council. In all of this my local road over the last 20 years has fallen away from a well-kept single-lane tarred road, into a third-world war zone lost in potholes, washed out verges and overgrown bush. My rates however have gone up and up.

These problems in process and outcome have existed for the whole time the Greens have been a force in Council. Yet they still exist. Will the Greens, again in their ascendancy, now attempt to resolve these local community issues? Will they alleviate ratepayer cost pressures and respect local community and environmental needs in their resolutions? They are required, in more ways than one, to think globally and act locally, remembering that local ratepayers voted for them. Will they endorse

Green principles and put their bodies on the line to achieve them?

Paul Gannon Coopers Shoot

Boardwalks v footpaths

Ocean Shores desperately needs footpaths and bike lanes. We need them to make the place safer and get pedestrians off the road verges and make safer lanes for bikes on existing roads. That’s where Byron Council staff and resources should be focused, not on building and maintaining boardwalks, supposedly to avoid just one of Ocean Shores’ many hills.

How does that make more sense than strategic footpaths that connect with Waterlily Park, with bus stops, with school and preschool, and shops?

Apparently, people from far and wide think it’s a great idea to build an expensive boardwalk in our locality, if the 1,000+ signatures on the pro-boardwalk petition are anything to go by. Perhaps many locals that signed up are only now realising that it’s not just about ‘one hill’; that’s just Stage 1. Stage 2 of the project extends the boardwalk/paths for about 2km via an isolated route through our fragile nature

reserves instead of using existing roadways. I guess it’s easy to forget that we live in one of the most biodiverse places in Australia. We need to be very smart about how we use our limited rates and focus on the real needs of the whole locality. By the way, you can remove your signature on their petition if you are now shocked by the true extent of the plans.

Richard Whitling South Golden Beach

Losing not failing Mandy, you consider your election losses as failures. You: a woman who has been tempered in the blaze of her vision, and who doesn’t rationalise, blame or attack in the face of her losses. Rather, she meets them with humility, guts, and grace. And self-disclosure. And she keeps going. I’ve never met that shape of political candidate before. Deep respect. Next time when you do win, you’ll be the MP who lost twice and rocked up again. You’ll be taking all that gained selfwisdom, empathy and tenacity with you into office, as well as the courage, insanity and conviction that drove you to go again. It’s THAT which will truly inspire a constituency.

Linda Haigh Main Arm

The NSW Far North Coast and Northern Rivers region is well known for its alternative lifestyles, and the different methods of finding inner harmony and health practised here. This colourful community is blessed with an abundance of healing practitioners of all kinds, as well as medical professionals grounded in modern Western medicine.

Whether you are looking for natural remedies, a yoga class, healing of a spiritual nature, your local GP, or anything in between, Byron Healing helps inform you of the different modalities and experiences available for you on your health and healing journey.

Parliament returns with tears, hope and frustration

David Lowe

In the midst of a freezing Canberra winter, federal parliament returned last week for the first time since the May election. The 48th Australian Parliament is the Albo show, with 24 new Labor members spreading across to what have traditionally been the Coalition benches, in an encroaching red wave.

Sussan Ley cut a lonely figure as opposition leader, already marginalised by members of her own fragile Coalition and trying to position herself as the representative of ‘struggling Australians’, as those opposite pushed ahead with plans to cuts student debt, improve childcare safety and enshrine penalty rates.

On her first day back, Ley left early to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser sponsored by global beer giant Lion. With the mainstream media mostly unwilling or unable to realise Australian politics is no longer a two horse race, parliamentary bit players did their best last week to capture the limelight for their respective constituents (or at least their social media followers).

Pauline Hanson and her team demonstrated their perpetual ignorance and racism by turning their back on Welcome to Country, Mehreen Faruqi risked eviction for holding up a sign that said ‘Gaza is starving. Words won’t feed them. Sanction Israel’, and the walking irrelevance known as Barnaby Joyce told the world he was on a personal crusade against net zero, regardless of whatever the remnants of the Coalition decide to think about the matter.

Clouds on the horizon

Although he faces no real opposition within the parliament, not everything went Anthony Albanese’s way in his first week back.

After months of pressure, he and Penny Wong released their strongest statement yet on Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, but this contained no practical measures and pleased no one.

Across the Pacific, the neighbourhood bully announced he would be foisting American beef on Australian consumers, biosecurity and local oversupply be damned.

More positively for the

‘Gaza is starving. Words won’t feed them. Sanction Israel.’

– Mehreen Faruqi

world, if not for Labor, two major legal developments showed the turning of the tide at a state and international level towards fossil energy, following the previous week’s legal abandonment of the people of the Torres Strait to the climate crisis.

in NSW, a major legal win by a Hunter Valley community group has stopped one of the largest planned coal mine expansions in the state, at Mount Pleasant, due to the associated climate impacts. The NSW Court of Appeal has ruled that the mine cannot double its output or increase its life to 2048. Meanwhile in The Hague, the International Court of Justice has ruled that nations have an obligation to prevent climate catastrophe and may face legal consequences for making the situation worse.

At both a state and federal level, Labor governments are fast running out of excuses for their hypocrisy on fossil fuels.

Giant-killer speaks

The best speech in parliament last week was the first for Labor’s new member for Dickson, Ali France, who defeated Peter Dutton on her third attempt.

Having survived the loss of her leg in a horrific accident, her ex-husband to cancer and then her 19-year-old son Henry to leukaemia, there was an impression that beating the former opposition leader was not the most difficult thing the Queenslander has done recently.

With many of the key people in her life present in the public gallery, including the former premier of Queensland, Steven Miles, Ali France moved many listeners to tears as she explained her journey into politics, which she described as the result of ‘hundreds of little steps – a lifetime of small acts of kindness and support from so many good people…

‘Some of you, like my Henry, are in another place, hopefully looking on with a big, wide smile.’

She described herself as the product of ‘generational activism’, beginning with

‘Fighting for fair is in my blood.’

– Ali France

her grandmother, who was never a member of the Labor Party but loved Gough Whitlam, and went all the way to the High Court to challenge gerrymandering under Joh Bjelke-Petersen.

Fighting for fair

‘Fighting for fair is in my blood,’ said Ali France. She talked about the importance to her family of Medibank, ending conscription, and free university.

‘Medibank meant my uncle, Gerard, who had cystic fibrosis, could see a specialist in Brisbane and receive lifelong treatment at our local Prince Charles Hospital.

‘Medicare is Labor’s heart, but it is also mine. Medicare saved my life and gave my Henry the very best chance of surviving leukemia.’

She said her father, a unionist who eventually became the state member for Southport, taught her that if you want change, you have to work for it. She initially decided to right wrongs by studying journalism, rather than following in her father’s footsteps, but her life changed dramatically after the birth of her two children, and then the loss of her leg in 2011, when she was hit by an out-of-control car and pinned against a wall.

Ali France thanked the people who had saved her life, and Munjed Al Muderis, the refugee orthopaedic surgeon from Iraq who made it possible for her to walk again. She said this saved her from a severe mental health spiral, and opened the door to eventually representing Australia as a paralympic canoeist, while also giving her a lived understanding of life with a disability.

She thanked her surviving son Zach for his unconditional love. ‘I hope I have shown you what is possible even when the universe gives you grief,’ she said. ‘Kindness, a helping hand, opportunity and open doors have got me here, and that’s what I will be giving to the people of Dickson.’

Hopefully Ali France will receive more support and respect from her Labor colleagues than Maxine McKew did after she defeated John Howard in equally dramatic circumstances.

House Fundraiser

The war of words rages on Echo pages while children are starving in Gaza

Inaccurate

Dear Mr Murray, your recent statements contain factual inaccuracies and misleading assertions.

First, claims that Israel deliberately targets schools and hospitals ignore the fact that Hamas has long used civilian infrastructure to launch attacks – turning those places into military targets. This tactic has been well documented by independent sources apart from Israel. Allegations of genocide are not only inflammatory but legally unsubstantiated. Even the International Court of Justice – no friend of Israel, found no evidence of genocide or intent to commit it. If they, as legal experts, couldn’t prove it, how can you?

Your claim that most deaths in Gaza are women and children, but Hamas itself has said that 72 per cent of the casualties are men of combat age. Civilian loss is tragic, but distorting figures doesn’t help the truth.

What ‘Australian Jewish lobby’ are you referring to? And what ‘arms deal’ with Israel? These sound more like conspiracy theories than credible claims. If you have real evidence, present it.

Meanwhile, you seem eager to vilify Israel while ignoring actual despots like Putin, Assad, the Iranian regime, Hamas and so many more since Hitler.

Lastly, even if you oppose Israeli actions, how does that justify the rise in antisemitism in Australia? Criticism of a state never excuses hate against a people.

Please ground your arguments in facts, not fiction.

M McCormack

Billinudgel

Dear Rod

Thank you to Rod Murray (Echo 16/7/25, In the Deafening Silence) for putting into words what so many of us believe.

Speaking out against the hideous situation for Palestinian people, who are being shot and killed while attempting to stave off starvation is not being antisemitic: it is being antiNetanyahu and his callous colleagues, whose actions are beyond comprehension.

Ted and Marilyn Perkins Wollongbar

So much hardware

Why did the Australian government send 49 Abrams tanks to the neo-Nazi regime

in Ukraine and F35 war plane parts to the Zionist regime in Israel? What national security interests are served by arming far-right violent extremist regimes abroad to perpetuate war? The only reason they’re doing this is to appease their masters in Washington.

There’s no strategic advantage for Australia to be involved in these foreign wars. On the contrary, it undermines our standing on the world stage and compromises our reputation as a member of the United Nations. It violates our sovereignty and drains our national treasure just to profit US arms suppliers and further Washington’s hegemonic agenda.

John Scrivener  Main Arm

The failures

The failure of the international community – and the US in particular – to stop Israel’s horrific war crimes of mass starvation and genocide in Gaza is not inevitable and Israel can be stopped, but it means taking real action against the Israeli government.

In 1991 the US government pressured Israel into a peace process with the Palestinians. I reported with other foreign correspondents in Jerusalem while visiting Secretary of State, James Baker, held talks with the recalcitrant government of Ytzak Shamir.

The Bush / Baker era was the last US administration to put meaningful pressure on Israel by threatening to withhold $10 billion in loan guarantees.

Benjamin Netanyahu was not then PM but he had been the belligerent voice of Israel as ambassador to the United Nations and as a deputy foreign minister.

Both Netanyahu and Shamir were then hardline proponents of expanding illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and had to be dragged into the peace process – Shamir later supposedly admitted that he never wanted to make peace with the Palestinians.

There have been some hopeful times and realistic Israeli leaders since then such as Ytzak Rabin – who was tragically assassinated by an extremist Israeli – but Netanyahu’s approach to the Palestinians and his world view of

Israel has only solidified. We have since seen decades of unstopped Israeli expansion of illegal settlements and an Israel approach to ‘manage’ the Palestinian ‘problem’ and leave Gaza in limbo – former UK PM David Cameron rightly called it an open-air prison, the largest in the world.

This isn’t easy, and it is complex, and Palestinian leadership and Hamas bear responsibility too – but what’s happening in Gaza now is different. It’s very clear, it’s a war crime and genocide, acknowledged by a growing consensus of experts and genocide scholars.

Our politicians don’t want to use these words but they know what it is. Meanwhile Israel moves from its usual tactic of charging its critics with antisemitism to accusing them of ‘blood libel’. It is denial and distraction but it doesn’t work. The scenes of mass starvation in Gaza are too reminiscent of the photos from the concentration camps of WW2.

Albanese and Wong taking action against a Greens senator for protesting against our inaction over Gaza is similar denial and distraction.

James Baker was known as the man who said ‘no’ to Israel – now someone else has to say ‘no’.

The Trump administration is Israel’s complicit ally in the crimes in Gaza so it’s up to other countries including Australia to take action to sanction Israel.

Tony Hill Murwillumbah

What did we choose?

Archbishop Desmond Tutu said that if we take a neutral stance at times of injustice, like the genocide happening in Palestine today, then we have have chosen to support that injustice and Martin Luther King said, that our neutrality in times of injustice, makes possible the triumph of evil, meaning that our silence in the face of genocide, can be interpreted as our support for that genocide.

The overall situation of warfare in the world today, makes some kind of nuclear war now 100 per cent certain and in every one of the many war games simulations previously carried out, any limited use of nuclear weapons, always quickly led to the use of all of the nuclear weapons.

Peter Olson Goonengerry

Articles Does yellow mucus mean you need antibiotics?

What phlegm can – and can’t – say about your health

WWhat can this phlegm – also called mucus, snot, sputum, catarrh and booger – really tell us about our health?

Here’s what to look for, and when to see a doctor. What is phlegm?

hen you’re sick you’ll often produce more phlegm, and might notice it’s thicker or a different colour: white, green, yellow or maybe even brown.

sick ll often duce more ght notice it’s rent llow or wn. s ell alth? o look

We all produce mucus, even when healthy. Mucus is a barrier to the outside world that helps protect the organs in our bodies.

It’s produced by special cells within the epithelium. This is a tissue that lines the organs, cavities and surfaces in your body, including your eyes, mouth, digestive system and respiratory system (nasal passages and lungs).

Cells in this epithelial lining constantly secrete mucus. It acts as:

• a lubricant, preventing tissues from drying out

• a physical barrier filtering out and trapping particles such as dust, allergens and bacteria

• an immune barrier which contains various antimicrobial molecules that can kill a wide range of bacteria, fungi and even viruses.

Why do we produce more mucus when we’re sick?

The epithelium is one of the body’s first lines of defence when we have an infection. When these cells detect a pathogen – whether bacteria or a virus – they produce more mucus to strengthen the body’s physical and immune barriers.

Your body’s immune response causes inflammation, and this makes you produce more mucus. This excessive production and build-up is called mucus hypersecretion.

We often feel this is in our nasal passages when we have a cold, and sometimes lungs if we have a chest infection.

Usually, the epithelium’s cilia – long, hair-like cells –propel this mucus away and keep our airway passages clear.

But infections might damage or over-work the cilia, making us need to cough up phlegm or blow our noses to deal with this build-up.

Allergies are similar – your immune system overreacts to harmless substances (such as dust, pollen and certain foods) and produces excessive amounts of mucus.

Hypersecretion also affects people with chronic illness such as asthma, cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Why does mucus

Being sick can also affect the consistency of phlegm.

In a healthy person, mucus is around 90–95% water – the rest is made up of proteins called mucins and salts. This is why snot is usually clear and runny.

But when you’re sick, or recovering from an infection, studies suggest you produce more mucin proteins. These make your phlegm thicker.

This can give you a stuffy head, blocked nose or mean mucus accumulates and trickles to the back of your throat. This is known as postnasal drip – also a common source of cough.

What about colour?

Thick mucus that is white or cloudy is usually an early sign of an infection, such as a cold. It may also indicate inflammation from allergies or chronic conditions such as asthma.

In the later stages of infection, snot is generally green, yellow or even brown. The greenish-yellow tinge comes from an enzyme called myeloperoxidase produced by immune cells that are fighting the infection.

Brownish-red mucus usually means it contains

blood. This may happen when your nasal passages are damaged or irritated, often from blowing your nose a lot, or because they’re dry.

This usually isn’t a cause for concern when blowing your nose.

blood. Thi you are dama often from nose a t fo bl But i blood (haem indicate som serious, serious

But if you cough up blood (haemoptysis) it can indicate something more serious, including a serious lung infection or even cancer. You should speak to a medical professional.

Black mucus is rare. It can be the sign of a fungal infection, or exposure to pollutants such as coal, dust or cigarette smoke. You should see a doctor if your mucus is black.

So, do I need antibiotics?

Your doctor may ask about your phlegm to make a diagnosis – its colour, consistency and how much you’re producing.

But studies show patients’ descriptions might not always be consistent or match observations made by a healthcare professional.

So, a doctor may use a sputum colour chart to differentiate between viral and bacterial infections and decide whether to prescribe antibiotics.

Some evidence suggests yellowish-green mucus might be caused by a bacterial infection, rather than a virus (which won’t respond to antibiotics).

However, it’s not always the case.

So, the colour of your phlegm is not enough by itself to accurately diagnose an infection and tell if you need antibiotics.

But if you’re producing a lot of mucus and the colour or consistency is different from normal, it could be the sign your body is fighting an infection.

Drinking lots of fluids or use of decongestant sprays may help in the short term. However, if you have additional symptoms, such as a fever, fatigue or loss of appetite for more than one to two weeks, speak to a healthcare professional.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a

Byron Bay lawn bowlers make

Brett Luker

Lawn bowlers from Club Byron continue to achieve at local and state level as demonstrated last weekend at Ballina.

Club Byron sent a team of six to compete in the Northern Rivers section of the State Finals held at Cherry Street in Ballina.

Pat Bigg and Kym Quinnel both had tough games in the women’s singles on Saturday. Kym progressed to the final on Sunday where she narrowly missed out to winner Susan Goode from Cabarita.

Father and son Paul and Louis Clark played in the men’s singles with Louis going on to the final on Sunday. He put up a great effort against eventual winner Paul Gray from Maclean.

In the Men’s state pairs final Club Byron’s greenkeeper duo of Troy Makin and Michael Anderson were runners-up in a close game against the team of Josh McDonnell and Brian Eichorn from East Lismore.

All this on the back of a trip to Nowra recently where 14 bowlers from Byron Bay competed in the Grade 2 State Pennant finals. While they didn’t win titles they did the club proud by competing against 15 other top clubs from around the state.

For a relatively small club this is

Violet takes no prisoners during U/6 game

testament to the dedication of the players and the supportive community of senior players, staff and volunteers. We encourage everyone to come to our friendly club and join in for social or competitive sport.

Emmanuel Anglican College wins local segment of Bill Turner Cup

The Emmanuel Anglican College U/15s boys football team have been crowned Far North Coast Champions in the Bill Turner Cup after a convincing 7-0 victory over Richmond River High in the area final.

The side got off to a flyer scoring their first goal in less than 60 seconds and went to the break 6-0 up. They topped off the win with a late goal.

Knockout comp

The game was round six of the Bill Turner Cup, a knockout competition involving schools across Queensland, New South

Turner Cup winner the Emmanuel Anglican College

Wales and Victoria. The win gave Emmanuel Anglican College the crown for the Far North Coast area. The team now move on to

Echo wants to

Please send stories, pics, match reports, upcoming events, tall tales (not too tall mind you), results and anecdotes to

face Armidale Secondary College, who were the winners of the North West / New England region, next Tuesday in Armidale.

Friday night saw the U/17s Mullumbimby Giants girls league tag team secure the minor premiership by winning against Cudgen 40-4 at Les Donnelly Field.

The team was coached by Reese Donnelly and has five representative players who also play tackle rugby league for various other local clubs and play in the Gold Coast Titans’ emerging academy and development teams.

Tweed Heads surfer ready to represent Australia

Emma Perrier on her way to winning the Surfing Australia Longboard Title

held at Cabarita Beach last Sunday. The win puts her in the Australian team that will compete at the 2026 ISA World Longboard Championships in El Salvador. Josh Constable

won the men’s Australian title.

Surfing Australia, Ness Brown

Violet is in one of the two U/6s Mullum junior Giants teams coached by Billy Hedditch and Mitch Ward. Photo Sarah Archibald

Pat Bigg and Kym Quinnel about to play each other at Cherry Street Bowls in Ballina. Photo supplied

Bill

U/15s boys football team. Photo supplied

U/17s Mullumbimby Giants girls league tag team.

Photo Sarah Archibald

(womens)

(Noosa, QLD)

Photo

Are migrating whales heading south early to get cool?

University of Queensland surveys reveal the peak of the southern migration of humpback whales down the east Australian coast is now weeks earlier than it was 21 years ago, and a warming Southern Ocean may be the reason.

Associate Professor Rebecca Dunlop from UQ’s School of the Environment found the return migration from northern breeding grounds has shifted earlier by approximately three weeks.

‘Acoustic and visual surveys show the peak of the southern migration in 2003 was in early October but by 2024, we observed it was in the middle of September,’ Dr Dunlop said.

‘While migratory timing naturally fluctuates from year to year by about two weeks, since 2021 there has been a clear and sustained change.

‘The cues for migration are not well understood but are likely to be influenced by ecological and environmental factors impacting summer feeding while in the Southern Ocean.

‘A big factor is the connection between sea ice and krill populations.’

Apart from the odd temporary stopover, humpback whales do not eat during the winter months when they migrate to tropical and subtropical breeding grounds.

‘Whales likely time their migration to ensure their stay in Antarctic waters is long enough with adequate feed to build the fat and protein reserves needed to fuel their journey to and from the breeding grounds, as well as for reproductive activities,’ Dr Dunlop said.

‘The later years of this study coincide with a pronounced decline in sea

ice coverage beyond usual annual fluctuations.

Less sea ice means less food

‘Less sea ice, or a shorter ice season, means less algae which is crucial food for krill.

‘Less available krill prior to the migration could be forcing the whales back to the feeding grounds earlier.’

The eastern Australian population of humpback whales has grown from only 300 in the 1960s after sustained hunting, to around 40,000.

‘We did consider if an

earlier departure from the northern breeding grounds could be driven by crowding or even human activity in the Great Barrier Reef,’ Dr Dunlop said.

‘But while the whale population increased steadily over the 21 years of this study, a clear shift in migration timing did not occur until after 2021 when rising water temperatures driven by climate change affected sea ice coverage in the Antarctic oceans.

‘This earlier return south is also being seen in other humpback populations –along Australia’s west coast and South America.

‘I am concerned at some point we may see a decline in birth rates because females won’t have the energy to support migrating north, giving birth and getting their calf back to the feeding grounds.’

A research project is underway to determine whether the timing of the migration north away from the feeding grounds has also shifted.

The research is published in Scientific Reports www.nature.com/articles/ s41598-025-07010-9

Stand for the Babies of Gaza

Mandy Nolan

It’s hard to look at photos of Palestinian babies and children without feeling despair. Without feeling shame. Without feeling that just by seeing this and doing nothing that I am complicit to the most unspeakable harm. We are all complicit. I urge you, do not look away. Do not furnish this moment with propaganda that excuses you, and blames the victims for their own death.

Cryptic Clues

ACROSS

1.Spectacles head of government won’t attend, so misses (6)

5.Work out introduction to duck recipe distributed around hotel (8)

9.Armies in revolution over leaders of infantry legions in the distance (3,5)

10.Personal assistants at city gutted Leo’s office (6)

11.Hooter free to be blasted so far (10)

12.Incident isn’t finalised on square (4)

13.Contest entered by Lions’ leader is finished (8)

16.Right to replace unknown quantity in foreign aphrodisiac (6)

17.Become emotional, being put out about the Listener (4,2)

19.Mike replaces Conservative as head of transport union (8)

21.Foundation built into tomb, as expected (4)

22.Stuff around with eight ingredients, including radicchio at first, and then a pizza (10)

25.Estimate a sum (6)

26.Abused airman has right to a pizza (8)

27.Somewhat angry pelican stripped flowering herb (8)

28.Spooner’s horse expired on recliner du jour! (3,3)

DOWN

2.Issue is confined to limited space (5)

3.A few chaps aren’t finished with huge battle (5)

4.Salome perversely hiding new pizza (7)

5.Nick is in side unfairly, so take off! (7)

6.Parmigiana starter about to be packed into box with pizza (7)

7.Get up and go with Italian beer and pizza! (9)

8.Old lover said to be starting over (9)

14.Possibility to save a lot of time in procedure (9)

15.Inherently adorable hound (9)

18.Ceremony starts to excite imperialists in doomed city (7)

19.Mother, on edge, gets ban finally lifted from instrument (7)

20.Part of organ that shields incipient homeostatic intestinal regulation is put back on (7)

23.Libidinous sweeties dump Charlie for Romeo (5)

24.Given instructions orally, Echo produces dessert (5)

Quick Clues

ACROSS

1.Young women in Scotland (6)

5.Crack a secret code (8)

9.Rewards for frequent flyers (3,5)

10.Office of the Pope (6)

11.Up until now (10)

12.Level; matching (4)

13.Whole or finished (8)

16.Sexually stimulating (6)

17.Rip into pieces (4,2)

19.Legal union between partners (8)

21.Foundation or starting point (4)

22.Classic pizza with tomato, mozzarella and basil (10)

25.Shape or numerical value (6)

26.Tomato-based pasta sauce (8)

27.Herb used in confectionery (8)

28.Sofa that converts for sleeping (3,3) DOWN

2.Get up from lying down (5)

3.WWI battle site in northern France (5)

4.Salmon dish in Italian cuisine (7)

5.Take off clothing (7)

6.Salad with tomato, mozzarella and basil (7)

7.Spicy Italian sausage topping (9)

8.Going beyond limits (9)

14.Surgical procedure or military action (9)

15.Harass or mistreat systematically (9)

18.Ancient Roman city buried by volcano (7)

19.Wooden percussion instrument (7)

20.Employed again after dismissal (7)

23.Lustfully aroused (5)

24.Rich European layered cake (5)

Last week’s solution #65

R O N P ROMEO CHIPOLATA I E P I D T I N SURGEON SCHERZI I O G S E SAUDI CARROUSEL N N A I M C CROSSBRED ENROL A P G A A MASTIFF EXEMPTS P T T R B X I S BARCELONA CORGI E A O Z C O O E DAYOFRECKONING

■ If you would like to provide any feedback to Stephen Clarke about his crosswords please email: crosswordfeedback@echo.net.au

With Chiron’s backspin making five planets retrograde – three in Aries, governed by war planet Mars – this week’s grace note is Venus in caring, comforting Cancer…

To see their tiny limbs, their swollen bellies, the sharp line of their spines, with their skin thinly covering their fragile bones, is painful. I can’t imagine this being my child. Starvation makes people seem alien. We don’t recognise this form as entirely human. It’s how we disassociate from what we are seeing.

And the eyes. Large round sad eyes. Eyes that look out to the world and hope to catch our gaze. Eyes that reach across the world to find our humanity. Eyes that look into my soul and ask me: are there really two sides to what’s happening in Gaza? When I look at a baby dying from forced starvation I can only see one truth. There are never two sides in the abuse of children. Just one fact. The wilful and violent murder of a child weaponised as human collateral to punish a nation. It’s ideological.

A child who will die never knowing or understanding that they have become a weapon of war. They will die before they even develop language. Food is power. This famine is not climate-induced. It is not a failure of crops. It is a failure of humanity. It is a war crime. It is designed to dismantle Palestine. To destroy the hearts and future of a nation. This is violent, settler colonialism in full swing. This is a man-made famine. And we know the men who are making it happen. These are men who kill babies. And the world keeps letting them.

This is not war. War suggests a fight between two equal sides. This is genocide. And starvation isn’t a consequence, it’s a tactic. Babies and little kids and teenagers and their mothers are dying. There is food. The world has sent it. But it’s not getting in. And at this level of starvation, food is no longer the solution. There are babies with the hearts of 85-year-old men. Babies who could die from refeeding because of the damage of starvation.

ARIES: This week’s three planets retrograde in your sign revisit the lessons of the past for reconsideration and review. Neptune reversed could recall emotional issues you thought were resolved. Chiron reversed advises following these strong feelings to unlock and finally heal a back story. More about Saturn retrograde next week.

TAURUS: Your personal planet Venus spends this week in gentle, sentimental, security-conscious mode, with a strong family agenda. So far so cosy, though as fixed-sign energetics butt heads you may encounter stubborn standoffs with people, you included, tenaciously defending ideas and ideals. Best relax, loosen up, keep calm.

GEMINI: Your mentor planet Mercury’s slowdown during the first half of August could make objectivity difficult when dealing with rigid or opiniated others. If you have a knee-jerk reaction to a perceived feeling of neglect or offence, remember that appearances can be deceiving. Avoid making assumptions, or acting on them.

Eyes that look into my soul and ask me: are there really two sides to what’s happening in Gaza? When I look at a baby dying from forced starvation I can only see one truth. There are never two sides in the abuse of children. Just one fact.

The majority of humanitarian aid and food assistance has been blocked by Israel. That is a fact. This was reported yesterday by 15 international aid agencies on Al Jazeera. And the food that gets in is being randomly distributed, with boys as young as ten who collect rations for their families being shot by the IDF. Daily.

International law is clear. ‘The use of starvation as a method of warfare is prohibited.’ So why is it still happening? Who will hold the Netanyahu government to account? Where are the sanctions? Where is the justice? Who will save these babies?

CANCER: Venus in Cancer for the first three weeks of August is your time to enjoy cosy friend and family gatherings at home. If you’ve been struggling solo, it’s your cue to reach out to community. Jupiter’s year of bounty isn’t necessarily about finances: it could bring ancestral inheritance, spiritual gifts or artistic success.

LEO: While Mercury retrograde in your sign mightn’t be what you’d order for your glamorous, amorous season in the sun, it does offer golden opportunities to refine your communication style on all levels: written, spoken and behavioural – in social situations, personal interactions, business negotiations and/or creative expression.

VIRGO: Lively Mars in Virgo for the first week of this month is a great motivator for getting lots of stuff done, but its shadow side does have an itchy trigger finger which can cause eruptive reactions, with an outpouring of stormy thoughts. Maintain cruise control till the current Mercury retro’s drama arc subsides.

LIBRA: Libra’s planet guide Venus settling into her most caring, sharing and domestic mode suggests you’ll be happiest this week finding ways to feed and nourish others –friends, family, housemates, someone in need – whether by actually making meals, uplifting spirits, inspiring creativity or providing emotional connection and support.

SCORPIO: Self-contained Scorpios aren’t astrologically inclined to overshare and naturally know what’s best left unsaid. But current astral energetics are wholeheartedly encouraging boldness and spontaneity, and with this weekend’s waxing moon in your reserved sign, being too reticent could make you seem guarded, so aim for trustworthy and approachable.

SAGITTARIUS: Been feeling bogged down by minutiae or just generally stuck? Jupiter suggests reviewing your stance. Is it tending towards inflexible? Are you being inclusive? How do your plans affect the community, your environment, loved ones? Considering alternative viewpoints doesn’t commit you to them, it just broadens your options.

Historically, genocide is often proven in international courts after the fact. But right now the world bears witness. We are watching genocide on our social media feeds. To constitute genocide there must be proven intent on the part of the perpetrators to physically destroy an ethnic, racial or religious group. The forced starvation of Gaza meets this criteria.

The Holocaust Museum outlines the ten stages of genocide. The genocide in Gaza meets all of these ten stages. In particular ‘10. Denial – the perpetrators of the genocide deny having committed their crimes. Victims are often blamed. Evidence is hidden and witnesses are intimidated.’

In the future we will be asked what we did when the babies of Gaza were starved. When Palestine experienced genocide.

Stand up. Speak out. Raise your voice. Push this government. Stand for peace. Sanctions. Justice. Action. And most importantly protect the babies of Gaza.

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox column has appeared in The Echo for almost 23 years. The personal and the political often meet here; she’s also been the Greens federal candidate since before the last two federal elections. The Echo’s coverage of political issues will remain as comprehensive and fair as it has ever been, outside this opinion column which, as always, contains Mandy’s personal opinions only.

CAPRICORN: According to Capricorns, you know best. But this is Leo season and if they’re contradicted, dramatic reactions can happen. So how might a classic Capricorn navigate the huffs and ruffled feathers of this week’s flashy and bossy control freaks? By encouraging their large-hearted side and enjoying August’s colourful entertainments.

AQUARIUS: With this extrovert month encouraging activism, you’re likely to want to support or raise your voice for a cause you’re passionate about. So dive in and make a difference, just remember that others with a narrower focus than your wide-angled selves might take some time to understand your kaleidoscopic perspective.

PISCES: Sensitive Pisceans like to keep everyone happy, and your guiding planet Neptune concurs, but finding the off button mightn’t be all that easy this week. Losing track and spreading yourself too thin is a reliable recipe for burnout, so by all means be generous, but also mindful of your energy reserves.

MANDY NOLAN’S

Photo: Soheil Jalili / Unsplash

16 PAGE LIFTOUT

THE ART OF LIVING IN THE NORTHERN RIVERS

Understanding the ground rules gets you the best results

There are a myriad of considerations when you are looking to purchase property, buy your dream home or develop a residential or commercial space. This ranges from assessing your financial position and deciding on the project you are pursuing, to how you will make that idea come to fruition and who will help you on that journey. So let’s delve into a few of the basics around what and who you might need to make your project a success.

Interest rates/finance/property market

After a long period of very low interest rates Australian interest rates saw several years of steep hikes, a year without movement in 2024 and finally the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) began lowering the cash rate in 2025. There was a .25 per cent cut in February and another in May. The RBA then held the interest rate steady at 3.85 per cent in July meeting, defying expectations of another rate cut.

The RBA will meet again on 12 August and they will be looking at a number of factors to determine if there will be another rate cut.

Factors considered include inflation, which they like to maintain between two to three per cent, and the level of employment participation. Recent employment figures have been strong.

The other factor that is playing into the situation is the unpredictable behaviour of the United States government and it’s unstable economic policies.

The RBA stated in May that there was uncertainty about the world economy and that, ‘the Board considered a severe downside scenario and noted that monetary policy is well placed to respond

decisively to international developments if they were to have material implications for activity and inflation in Australia’.

Nonetheless, all four major banks (ANZ, Westpac, CBA, and NAB) are predicting a rate cut of at least a .25 per cent in August and another in November with the NAB and Westpac predicting a third cut in February 2026, taking the cash rate to 3.10 per cent by the beginning of 2026.

This has led to the prediction that property prices will begin to increase over the next year.

‘Australian property prices are on a trajectory to reach unprecedented levels in the 2025-26 financial year, according to new forecasts, presenting a daunting reality for first-home buyers while offering lucrative opportunities for sellers,’ stated Property Buzz recently.

First home buyers

If you are looking to buy your first home in Australia there are a number of government-backed assistance schemes to help you enter the market. These schemes have specific criteria that you must meet to be eligible including being an Australian citizen or

a permanent resident of Australia, being 18 years or over, time frames for moving in, and length of time you must live in the home, minimum deposits, etc.

The First Home Buyers Assistance scheme is a NSW government scheme that provides a full or partial exemption on transfer duty otherwise known as stamp duty. This applies to people who are buying their first home for a value less than $1 million. It also requires you to move into the home within 12 months and to spend a minimum of 12 continuous months living in the home.

First Home Owners Grant for a new home is a $10,000 grant towards buying or building your first home. It is a NSW government-backed grant that is for a new house that no one has previously lived in. The house must be worth no more than $600,000 (or, for a house and land package with comprehensive building contract, no more than $750,000). Again there is the 12-month requirement for living in the house.

The First Home Guarantee is Australian government-backed and ‘provides a guarantee to the participating lender to enable you to borrow up to 95 per cent of the property value.’ Your taxable income must be below the income cap - $125,000 for individuals or a combined $200,000 for joint applicants.

Diversify your income

For some people, the idea of buying a property, and generating an income from it, is an essential part of how they are thinking about their future.

‘A clear direction from the beginning is important,’ said Mercedes Castrikum from Castrikum Adams Legal.

‘When I first started out clients were often forced to go far and wide, but that’s not the case anymore. Solicitors can now work

Buying a property:

www.service.nsw.gov.au/guide/buying-a-property www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/buying-and-selling-property/buying-residential-property-nsw

First home buyer grant:

www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/grants-schemes/first-home-buyer Stamp duty: www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/taxes-duties-levies-royalties/transfer-duty

closely with town planners, developers, builders, etc. and it creates solid support for the client.’

Some people might look at setting up a dual occupancy, granny flat, or tiny home on their land. Others might be considering some kind of farming or productive permaculture gardens to supplement their income at local farmers’ markets or with roadside stalls.

What is key is that you not only understand what you might do for extra income, but to make sure that you can actually do what you are planning to do on the land or property you are buying or renting.

‘Dual occupation, granny flats, permaculture and many other home businesses or hobbies all come with an overlay of regulations,’ said Mercedes.

‘The tiny house movement is fabulous, but you need to know what the development controls are for tiny homes. Again if you want to have a roadside stall, a professional practice or people coming to your home for professional consultations then knowing what you want to do and and where you are going from the beginning is key.’

There are a range of laws from local council to state, and even commonwealth-level regulations that determine the activities, buildings and restrictions for any particular piece of land. Making sure you are actually allowed to build, or do the planned activity on the site before purchasing it helps to avoid both future disappointment and frustration.

For a dual occupancy, or granny flat, it is important to check in with your local council planning department or with a registered certifier or conveyancer that understands which zoning regulations allow what activities where. This can change depending on the Local Government Area (LGA) that the property is in as each council sets up their own Local Environment Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP) to help shape the different areas of their shires.

Tiny homes, or structures on wheels, are one popular way to have

a spare room or to supplement an income, but it is important to check with your local council about where they are allowed and other requirements. Importantly, the rules can differ between rural and urban settings with limitations on placement, how many consecutive nights they can be occupied and who is occupying them. Depending on how, and for what purpose they are being used, this can also impact how they are installed.

It is important to check with your local council if you can put a tiny home on your block, the conditions, and what is and isn’t allowed, as this will change both within a council area and from council to council across NSW.

‘Often one thing that is overlooked when people get excited about home hobbies or a home business are the tax considerations, and that needs to be considered in relation to the impact that will have on your future income and investment,’ said Mercedes.

Beautifying and creating value

For those looking to increase the value of their property as the market begins to grow, there are a number of ways you can increase the value.

Creating an overall cohesive concept for your property is key with houses, gardens and landscaping all integral to increasing the value of your property, whether it is large or small.

Picking out key elements that are worth focusing on can really help you decide what to highlight, especially if you have a particular budget in mind.

If you have heritage features, then repairing and featuring these can give your property charm and desirability. Something as basic as property maintenance, inside and out, can ensure that your property looks cared for and maintained.

Another effective way to increase the value of the property is to renovate the kitchen or bathroom as some buyers are willing to pay more to be able to move straight into a property.

Even if you have a smaller property making good use of space

can be an attractive feature. Do you want to highlight effective storage, multi-use spaces or perhaps open-plan living to make the best use of the house and property.

Bringing in an interior designer and/or landscaper in to help shape your vision for the house or property can also help you add value to your property.

Bringing a vision together and moving a project forward as a cohesive concept is vital, explained Bisque Interiors designer and creator Kathy Brauer.

‘I think that what happens is that certain people align with each other in the industry, so if you have a particular style of house you are renovating, then you might have a certain garden person in mind that you know will work with that style.

‘For example, with house plans I do in the interiors, but I will also give a general feel on the exteriors and then the landscapers will put something forward that is in keeping with the overall style being used. The whole thing has be cohesive and it all has to feel like one – there is no more ‘good old days’ of not worrying about your garden. I think this is the only way it can be done to get a house that is really amazing.’

‘As interior designers, we use a lot of eco-products including coconut, cotton, onyx, fossilised coral, rafia, recycled glass and rattan,’ explained Kathy.

Tying the outside space to the overall design and feel of the property can be important, and is really a chance to enhance the property.

‘My passion is interior design and at Bisque Interiors our strength is our lighting as well as using a lot of eco-products for our interiors and finishing off. You definitely have to work hand-inhand with everyone across the project to ensure you get the right overall look and feel for a project.’

Why Northern Rivers Homes Peak When Everyone Else Pays

Why Northern Rivers homes peak when everyone else pays

In the Northern Rivers, peak electricity pricing is a significant household expense that solar and battery storage systems can dramatically reduce or even eliminate. With electricity rates reaching 40 to 45 cents per kilowatt-hour during peak periods (2pm to 8pm on weekdays), nearly double the cost during off-peak times, the financial impact on family budgets is considerable.

The cost of peak pricing

Peak pricing structures are designed to alleviate pressure on the grid during periods of high demand. However, everyday activities such as preparing dinner, cooling the home, and running appliances often take place precisely when electricity is most expensive. For example, running a 5kW air conditioner during the sixhour peak window costs approximately $5.40 per day. The same usage during off-peak periods would be just $3.00. When scaled across a household’s regular energy needs, this difference can amount to hundreds of dollars each year in additional costs, simply for using electricity during standard living hours.

The economics of solar and battery storage

Solar generation aligns closely with peak pricing periods. A standard 6.6kW solar system delivers its highest output during the expensive afternoon window. However, solar alone cannot solve the problem of evening peak usage. Once the sun sets, household electricity demand remains high while generation drops off. This is where battery storage becomes essential. By storing surplus solar energy generated during

the day, batteries allow households to draw on their own power in the evening, avoiding expensive grid usage. According to Rainbow Power Company, homes with combined solar and battery systems save between $3 and $10 per day during peak periods. This translates to annual savings of $1,000 to $3,000.

Federal battery rebate now available

Recognising the critical role home batteries play in stabilising the electricity grid, the federal government launched a new battery rebate program on 1 July 2025. According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the initiative is reducing costs for everyone, not just those who install a battery, by lowering peak demand and supporting a more stable electricity grid. This rebate can be combined with existing solar incentives, significantly reducing the upfront cost of installation. With the program available for a limited time, households have a clear opportunity to invest in battery storage at reduced cost.

Why the Northern Rivers is uniquely suited

The Northern Rivers region enjoys strong solar yields year-round, making solar generation consistently reliable. However, the area also faces particular challenges that increase the value of battery storage. Grid reliability is a concern, with outages occurring relatively often, especially in rural and hinterland areas. Recent severe weather events have further exposed the vulnerability of centralised energy infrastructure. More than 40,000 homes in the region could benefit from solar and battery storage. Many already have rooftop solar systems installed, making the addition of a battery the logical next

step towards greater energy independence.

More than just financial returns

While cost savings often drive initial interest, additional benefits become clear after installation. Gavin Phibbs, Sales Leader at Rainbow Power Company, notes that customers frequently highlight the peace of mind that comes with being more energy independent, especially during storms or outages. Many also speak of the satisfaction that comes from future-proofing their homes and contributing to a cleaner energy mix. These sentiments reflect a broader shift in how households perceive energy. As Rainbow Power Company CEO

Matthew Wittemeier explains, home batteries are becoming essential infrastructure. They help households manage blackouts, reduce reliance on the grid, and avoid exposure to rising peak tariffs.

For households in the Northern Rivers still paying peak electricity prices, the question is no longer whether battery storage makes sense, but when to make the switch. Current conditions suggest that sooner is best.

Rainbow Power Company has been at the forefront of Australia’s solar movement since 1987.

For a personalised assessment, visit 1 Alternative Way, Nimbin, or call 02 6689 1430.

Konpak Unlocks New Ways of Living

On a quiet patch of land in Chinderah, a cluster of small homes dot the backyard. They belong to Dan Alroy, his wife, sons and extended family – living side-by-side, each with their own space but always close enough to lend a hand. It’s simple, affordable, and deeply connected living. The kind of setup that feels increasingly rare in a housing market that often pushes families further apart.

Just over in Cudgen, Cody Greer is preparing for a new chapter with his partner Jordy, their two-year-old, and a baby on the way. He’s converting an old bus into a home on a pocket of land he’s secured nearby, an intentional move towards a life with more freedom, more nature, and less financial strain.

Dan and Cody are the co-founders of Konpak, a Northern Riversbased tiny home company that’s redefining what it means to live well, without needing more space, more stuff or more debt. Founded in 2023, Konpak designs and builds custom tiny homes, modular dwellings, and cabins that prioritise quality craftsmanship, sustainable living and thoughtful design. Each home is under 40 square metres yet feels generous in its layout and full of possibility.

For Dan, a licensed builder with years of experience in modular and residential construction, the shift towards small-scale housing was a natural one. ‘Having my boys live close has been such a gift, not just practically, but emotionally,’ he says. ‘We’re each doing our own thing, but we’re there for each other. That’s what a home should enable.’

The flexibility of tiny homes is something more people are exploring, whether it’s multi-generational living on an existing property, building a starter home on a modest piece of land, or even creating a mobile setup that allows you to take your life on the road.

Cody, a designer and former founder of Northface Designs, brings a future-thinking design lens to the business. Every build he touches is practical, beautiful, and designed to evolve with the people who live in it. ‘When you’re raising a young family, you think a lot about how your home supports your lifestyle - not just now, but in five, ten years,’ Cody says. ‘We’re trying to give people options they might not have realised were possible.’

And that’s where Konpak shines. They don’t just build houses, they

help people unlock new ways of living. The team supports clients through the whole journey: from choosing land and navigating council approvals, to tailoring the design for off-grid living, family use, or rental income.

As housing pressures grow, the question isn’t just where to live, it’s how we want to live. Konpak’s homes offer a tangible answer: smart, sustainable, and personal. With the traditional dream of home ownership being so far out of reach for most, the team at Konpak see it as an opportunity to create a new kind of dream,

where we build smaller to create a larger life.

Whether you’ve got land already, a block you’re underutilising, or a dream of living smaller and lighter, Konpak is helping Australians reimagine home, one tiny build at a time.

As they open bookings for 2026, one thing’s clear: the future isn’t necessarily bigger. But it might just be better.

Konpak.com.au 0434 272 353

Award-winning, Sustainable, Energy Efficient Building

Permastructure Pty Ltd is an award-winning, sustainable, building company based in Northern NSW, specialising in in bespoke homes and commercial projects using progressive eco-materials including recycled timber, sustainably harvested hardwoods, hempcrete and rammed earth. In 2024 Permastructure won a Master Builder Award for Sustainability & Energy Efficiency for a home in Eureka.

Alongside innovative architectural design, they adhere to real sustainability practices. They often incorporate passive house principles into homes (via ‘PassivHaus’ standards) to ensure the highest energy efficiency.

While some builders claim to be ‘sustainable’, there are not many that really keep up-to-date with environmentally sound construction practices and European building standards, which

are well ahead of Australia.

Builder-Director Nicholas Jouin has worked with hemp and natural building for over 15 years and has a wealth of experience in the field. His team includes a skilled project manager who prides himself on accurate cost forecasting and planning, and an incredible architect who has experience in designing for aesthetic, functionality and energy efficiency.

The cost of building materials and trades has increased significantly over the last five years in Australia, which has definitely had an impact on the industry. While some builders are tending to under-quote in order to win clients over, Permastructure believes it is really important to offer their clients accurate estimates to prevent budget blow-outs, while ensuring quality construction and high-end finishes.

If you are interested in building a new home, undertaking a unique renovation or a shop fit-out, Permastructure Pty Ltd can support you with all aspects of project management.

Their design process includes in-depth budget planning, support with building code compliance, and all aspects of design.

Permastructure offers:

•Architectural design

•Hempcrete consulting

•Planning and construction approval coordination

•Construction of new homes

•Construction of our sustainable prefab homes

•Custom and bespoke renovations

•Custom and artistic joinery (including windows, doors, kitchens, cabinets).

0428 471 061

www.permastructure.com.au

8/19-21 Centennial Circuit, Byron Bay

Permastructure Pty Ltd is an award–winning* sustainable building company specialising in bespoke homes and commercial projects using progressive eco-materials including recycled timber, sustainably harvested hardwoods, hempcrete and rammed earth.

Quality construction; high-end finishes; functional and creative designs.

Master Builder Award for Sustainability & Energy Efficiency for a home in Eureka in 2024.

www.permastructure.com.au

Elevating living with timeless stone –discover Stone Style Mullumbimby

Tucked away in the heart of the Byron Shire, Stone Style Mullumbimby is a destination for those looking to elevate their residential or commercial spaces with thoughtful, organic, and creative surface treatments. Proudly located in the Northern Rivers region, Stone Style has earned a reputation for supplying unique natural stone and porcelain materials that blend functionality with beauty.

At the Mullumbimby showroom, customers are welcomed into a curated space that showcases a wide selection of natural stone tiles and pavers, wall cladding, stepping stones, and porcelain feature tiles. Each has been selected with design, quality and durability in mind. Whether you’re working on an interior renovation, pool area upgrade, or large-scale landscaping project, Stone Style offers materials that enhance every environment with a touch of elegance and authenticity.

Managed by Emma, the showroom is a space where inspiration meets expertise. Emma brings a fresh eye and a deep understanding of current trends, guiding homeowners, designers and builders through the selection process with a focus on style, practicality and cohesion. Clients can explore an array of surface solutions for both indoor and outdoor use, including pool mosaics, decorative features and architectural cladding, all within a warm and welcoming environment.

Just a two-minute walk around the corner from the showroom, Stone Style’s Trade Store and Distribution Centre on Manns Road offers convenience and comprehensive support for tradespeople and professionals. This space is managed by Dylan, who works closely with local tilers, builders and landscapers to ensure they have access to everything needed to get the job done. Stocked with trusted trade essentials including glues, grouts, sealers, tools and accessories, the Trade Store supports Stone Style’s product offering with brands like Mapei and Ardex, both known for their reliability and high-performance formulations.

Together, the showroom and trade store work in harmony

to provide a seamless experience for customers, from design inspiration and material selection to professional advice and on-site essentials. It’s a complete, design-led service grounded in the belief that surface treatments should be both functional and beautiful.

With locations on the Gold Coast and Mullumbimby, Stone Style is proud to be part of the Northern Rivers community, collaborating on projects across the region that celebrate nature, craftsmanship and good design. The Mullumbimby hub, in particular, serves as a creative meeting point for locals and visiting professionals alike, offering a hands-on experience with materials that stand the test of time.

Whether you’re a homeowner starting from scratch, a designer with a vision, or a trade professional needing fast access to stock, Stone Style Mullumbimby is ready to support you at every stage of your project.

Mullumbimby Showroom: 6/10 Towers Drive

Mullumbimby

Phone: 02 8599 4120

Email: hello@stonestyle.net.au

Mullumbimby Trade Store & Distribution Centre: 10 Manns Road, Mullumbimby

Opening Hours:

Monday to Thursday: 7:30am to 4pm

Friday: 7:30am to 3pm

Saturday: 8am to midday

Sunday and public holidays: closed

Explore the full range at stonestyle.com.au

Instagram: @stone_style__

Trade Store Instagram @stonestyle_trade

Australia’s shift from coal to clean energy: Northern Rivers’ ProSolar leads the way

Australia is undergoing one of the most significant energy transitions in its history, moving away from coal and embracing solar power and battery storage. As the nation reduces its reliance on fossil fuels, local companies like ProSolar, based here in the Northern Rivers, are playing a pivotal role in delivering clean, affordable, and reliable energy to homes and businesses.

For decades, coal-fired power stations have been the backbone of Australia’s electricity grid. However, concerns over climate change, rising energy prices, and the aging nature of coal infrastructure have accelerated the shift towards renewable energy. Over the past ten years, solar energy – particularly rooftop solar – has boomed, with more than three million Australian households now equipped with solar panels. This growth is being matched with rapid investment in battery technology, enabling homes and communities to store solar energy and use it around the clock.

In regional areas like the Northern Rivers, this shift is not only an environmental necessity but also a practical and economic opportunity. Local communities are embracing renewables at a faster rate than many metropolitan areas. Here, residents understand the importance of selfsufficiency, sustainability, and building resilience against climate and grid instability.

At the forefront of this clean energy movement is ProSolar, a trusted, local business that has become a cornerstone in the region’s transition to renewables. Backed by federal government support, ProSolar is leading the rollout of solar

and battery systems across homes, farms and community buildings. With a reputation for reliability, local knowledge and personalised service, ProSolar is helping everyday Australians take control of their energy future.

‘Our mission is to empower communities with clean, reliable energy,’ says Rachael Budgen, ProSolar’s Regional Operations Manager. ‘As a local company, we understand the unique needs of Northern Rivers residents— from off-grid rural properties to coastal homes impacted by extreme weather events. We’re proud to be delivering real solutions that make

Introducing the Federal Battery Rebate:

Energy Scheme (SRES) introduced a of usable battery storage. attract up to

a difference.’

Our mission is to empower communities with clean, reliable energy.

The move away from coal is being driven by both policy and market forces. The federal government’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 includes major investments in solar, wind and battery storage. Programs such as the National Battery Scheme and Clean Energy Future Fund are ensuring that regional and rural Australians are not left behind. ProSolar has been a key delivery partner in this effort. Working closely with local councils, community organisations and homeowners, they’ve installed thousands of systems that not only reduce emissions but also cut energy bills. In a time when cost-of-living pressures are

mounting, solar and battery solutions offer longterm savings and energy independence.

The environmental impact is equally significant. Solar energy systems installed by ProSolar in the Northern Rivers are estimated to prevent thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions annually. This contributes directly to cleaner air, a healthier environment, and a more sustainable future for the next generation.

Beyond the environmental and economic benefits, there’s a sense of community pride that comes with embracing local solutions. ‘When people see the ProSolar team arrive, they know they’re dealing with locals who care about the region,’ says Budgen. ‘We’re not a fly-in, fly-out operation – we’re part of the community. That trust really matters.’

As Australia continues its shift from coal to clean energy, companies like ProSolar are proving that local businesses can lead national change. With their combination of trusted service, technical expertise, and deep roots in the community, they’re not just installing solar panels – they’re powering a cleaner, brighter future for the Northern Rivers and beyond.

Interested in making the switch to solar and battery storage? Contact ProSolar Australia today for a free consultation.

02 7912 0760

www.prosolaraustralia.com.au

Based in the Northern Rivers, servicing homes and businesses across NSW.

Bisque: objects with soul. Spaces with meaning.

Pioneers of the coastal luxe aesthetic in Australia since 2000.

Long before ‘coastal luxe’ became part of the Australian design vocabulary, Bisque was quietly setting the tone. What started as a personal passion project has evolved into a thoughtful design studio and showroom – renowned for its calm, refined aesthetic and commitment to timeless materials, natural textures, and handcrafted pieces.

Founded in 2000 by husband-andwife team Ralph and Kathy, and now joined by their daughter Hannah, Bisque was born from a love of travel, craftsmanship, and the kind of interiors that feel as grounding as they are beautiful. Drawing inspiration from global landscapes – desert towns, Mediterranean villages, ancient ruins and sun-bleached coastlines – Bisque became one of the first design houses in Australia to offer what is now known as the coastal luxe look. At its core is an appreciation for restraint,

imperfection, and the tactile nature of handmade objects.

Today, Bisque continues to lead from its light-filled studio and showroom in Byron Bay, offering a curated selection of artisan-made furniture, lighting, textiles, tiles, basins and homewares. Every piece is designed in-house and made in close collaboration with a trusted network of skilled craftspeople around the world – makers who understand the language of simplicity and soul.

Beyond their product range Bisque offers a full interior design and styling service for both residential and commercial projects.

Their collections are deeply materialdriven. You’ll find: hand-carved marble and onyx basins that turn bathrooms into sanctuaries; natural stone tiles in soft, sandy tones; sculptural pendant lighting in ceramic, clay and rattan; and an ever-evolving range of furniture – from oversized timber consoles to handwoven sofas, armchairs and bedheads. There are vintage benches, clay pots sourced from remote

villages, and woven rugs made from jute, wool, and hemp – every item telling a story of time, place and craft. At Bisque they place great importance on sustainability and traceability. Their materials are consciously sourced, their production runs are limited, and they avoid trends in favour of longevity. They believe in buying less, but better – pieces that don’t just fill a space, but transform it. They’re proud to work with artisans who use traditional techniques, often passed down through generations, and to support small communities and independent makers who share their values.

Beyond their product range, Bisque offers a full interior design and styling service for both residential and commercial projects. From coastal homes to boutique hotels, wellness studios and retail spaces, they bring the Bisque philosophy into environments where calm and beauty can coexist. Their design process is collaborative, tailored and deeply intuitive – whether they’re helping to select finishes for a bathroom renovation or styling a home from the ground up.

Visiting their Byron Bay showroom is a sensory experience. Every corner is thoughtfully composed to reflect

the feeling of a lived-in, well-travelled home: raw yet refined, grounded yet elevated. It’s a place to slow down, explore and connect – with objects, with materials and with their team.

More than a store, Bisque is a way of living. It’s about choosing pieces that carry meaning, embracing the beauty of imperfection, and creating spaces that feel effortless, calm and quietly luxurious.

Visit their showroom at 3–4/60 Centennial Circuit, Byron Bay bisquetraders.com.au

Castrikum Adams Legal and Bangalow Conveyancing

Expertise in complex property transactions

Navigating property transactions in New South Wales, particularly in the Northern Rivers region, often involves unique challenges. Castrikum Adams Legal and its subsidiary, Bangalow Conveyancing, are recognised for their proficiency in both standard and complex property law matters.

Importantly, Bangalow Conveyancing is also experienced in handling conveyancing matters in Queensland, providing cross-border expertise for clients with property interests in both states.

Comprehensive property law services

Castrikum Adams Legal provides a full range of property law services, including:

• Residential and commercial conveyancing (NSW and QLD)

• Business transactions

• Leasing and property development

• Dispute resolution.

The firm is frequently engaged in matters involving boundary disputes, encroachments, easements, and compliance with planning and environmental legislation. Their approach is practical and clientfocused, with an emphasis on early identification and management of legal risks.

Bangalow Conveyancing offers

comprehensive and competitive fixed-fee conveyancing for residential, rural, and commercial properties in both NSW and Queensland. The team is adept at handling transactions involving complex title issues, offthe-plan purchases, and properties affected by unregistered interests or planning overlays. Their local insight ensures that clients receive advice relevant to the Northern Rivers property market, local council requirements, and the specific regulatory frameworks of both NSW and QLD.

Local knowledge and community connection

A key strength of both firms is their deep connection to the local community. Team members are locals, providing them with a nuanced understanding of local planning controls, council processes, and the specific challenges of rural and regional property transactions. This local expertise enables them to deliver practical, relevant guidance to clients.

Navigating access disputes

In a recent matter, the firm represented a local landowner who discovered her long-used and extensive driveway was not legally on her title, an issue that only surfaced after the neighbouring property changed hands. The new owner

MERCEDES

Well known in Northern Rivers, Mercedes has acted in a broad spectrum of legal matters, including complex property matters, building and construction disputes, corporate and business transactions, commercial litigation, elder law (aged care matters), estate planning, probate and administration, and conveyancing. Mercedes appears in Courts and Tribunals, bringing a wealth of practical and procedural knowledge to every matter.

CRAIG

Craig brings 37 years of experience in the residential development and commercial building industry. His extensive involvement in the commercial building sector has provided him with a thorough understanding of the compliance challenges faced by all parties in building and development matters. Craig’s industry insight ensures that our clients receive advice and service that is both commercially astute and, along with Mercedes expertise, is legally robust.

questioned the arrangement, leading to negotiations over whether to formalise access via an easement or pursue a boundary adjustment, with compensation quickly becoming a sticking point. This case highlights the importance of thorough due diligence in rural property transactions, particularly regarding access rights. It also demonstrates the complexities practitioners face when negotiating with multiple parties, including agents and neighbours with competing interests. Legal options offer pathways to resolve such disputes, but they often involve costs, compensation, and the potential for strained relationships. Ultimately, this matter settled without proceeding to court and underscores the need for clear communication, careful negotiation, and proactive risk management in rural conveyancing practices.

Managing complexity for clients

Castrikum Adams Legal and Bangalow Conveyancing are regularly instructed in matters requiring more than routine conveyancing, including:

• Subdivisions

• Boundary and encroachment disputes

• Easements, covenants, and rights of way

• Planning and development consent issues

• Transactions involving unregistered or informal interests

• Representation in court proceedings.

Their integrated approach ensures that clients benefit from both legal and conveyancing expertise, with even the most complex property matters managed efficiently and with meticulous attention to detail.

Technology and regional expertise

Both firms utilise secure digital platforms for document management and settlements, enabling clients to transact efficiently and securely. Their combination of local knowledge and

technical legal expertise positions them as trusted advisors for property owners, investors, and developers in the region.

Final word

For buyers and sellers, Bangalow Conveyancing provides comprehensive services across residential, rural, and commercial property transactions in both NSW and QLD. For property owners facing complex issues, Castrikum Adams Legal is the trusted choice. Both firms deliver clear and effective solutions, underpinned by legal expertise, practical experience, and a deep understanding of the local community.

Phone: 02 6687 1167

Address: George Reading Building, Suite 2, 5 Lismore Road, Bangalow

PRACTICE AREAS

Drop in for a friendly chat today.

Luxury granny flats and modular homes

Moncasa Homes is a leading Australian builder specialising in architecturally-designed modular granny flats and small homes, serving the Gold Coast, Queensland, and Northern New South Wales. The company offers turnkey modular living solutions, delivering energy-smart dwellings in as little as 12 weeks from council approval. Their focus lies in clear pricing, sustainable construction, and providing clients with a seamless, low-stress build experience.

Operating out of Molendinar on the Gold Coast, they manufacture all units off-site in their factory to ensure quality control before delivering to the client’s property. This approach supports precision construction and speedy delivery. Their mission is to provide sustainable, high-quality modular dwellings that meet changing housing needs while enhancing property value. The company emphasises socially- and environmentally-responsible design, fuelled by a belief that granny flats should be financially viable, flexible, and built to last.

Moncasa offers three main product models:

•Moncasa 1: a one-bedroom granny flat, priced from approximately A$165,000 (including transport and foundations) for a turnkey unit. It features a full steel frame, vaulted ceilings, air-conditioning, dishwasher, sealed-floor bathroom, and optional off-grid solar systems or carports.

•Moncasa 2: a compact two-bedroom unit, ranging from 50 to 68m2. Standard inclusions mirror the Moncasa 1 but with larger designed volume and optional extras such as decks, solar power, and landscaping. Pricing includes delivery up to 150 km from the factory; additional costs may apply beyond that radius.

•Moncasa 3/large granny flat: considered ‘mini-mansions’, these three-bedroom designs come complete with premium finishes and high-tech inclusions. Moncasa 3 is priced around A$270,000 inclusive of transport and foundations. Their large three-bedroom, two-bathroom variant is approximately A$350,000.

All models include delivery, council documentation, and essential fixtures. Optional extras can include solar arrays, rainwater tanks, septic systems, decks, and carports.

Moncasa’s modular units are built using 100% steel framing, making them termite- and rot-proof, with high insulation standards compliant with the 2023 National Construction Code. Interiors typically include LED lighting, air-conditioning, quality blinds, and modern wet-area fixtures. Structural and finishing quality is a key differentiator, ensuring that their off-site modules are indistinguishable from conventionally built dwellings once installed.

Most builds can proceed without a development application (DA) in QLD and NSW, provided the property:

•is zoned residential

•exceeds 450m2

•has only one granny flat

•has separate pedestrian access

•and the granny flat unit is within 80m2 living area (excluding carport/deck).

According to Moncasa, well-designed granny flats can increase the value of an existing property by up to 30%, with rental returns providing a steady passive income stream, helping homeowners offset mortgages or expand living options. Additionally, versatile dwellings such as granny flats serve as housing

for elderly relatives, adult children, home offices or guest studios.

Moncasa streamlines the client’s journey from concept to occupancy. After an initial consultation and optional site feasibility assessment, the design team customises the layout and fit-out according to client requirements. They then coordinate Council approvals, factory construction, transport, and installation, managing almost every aspect in-house.

With their off-site manufacturing model, transparent pricing, rapid delivery, and focus on sustainability and design quality, Moncasa Homes offers flexible living solutions, delivering a streamlined, low-risk path to expanding a property’s value and income potential.

www.moncasahomes.com.au

Investing in the future: why Vanilla Domes are revolutionising agriculture

In a world where climate volatility and unpredictable weather patterns threaten traditional farming, innovative technologies are paving the way for sustainable, resilient and profitable agricultural practices. Among the most promising breakthroughs is the Vanilla Dome – a geodesic, climate-controlled structure designed specifically to cultivate one of the world’s most valuable spices: vanilla. For investors, hobby farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs alike, the Vanilla Dome presents a compelling opportunity to be part of a future-focused, high-yield venture.

Vanilla is often referred to as the ‘green gold’ of the spice trade. Derived from the orchid Vanilla planifolia, it is one of the most labour-intensive crops to grow, requiring precise conditions for pollination, flowering and curing. Traditionally grown in tropical climates like Madagascar and Indonesia, vanilla cultivation is highly susceptible to cyclones, heatwaves and fungal diseases –making consistent production a daunting challenge.

This is where the Vanilla Dome steps in. Designed and developed with cutting-edge agricultural engineering, the dome is not just a greenhouse – it is a fully automated, intelligent growing ecosystem. Its climate control systems monitor and regulate temperature, humidity and airflow with pinpoint precision, simulating the ideal tropical environment for vanilla orchids to thrive. Regardless of external weather conditions, the dome ensures year-round consistency in flower induction, pollination and bean maturation.

What makes the dome especially attractive to investors is its automation capability. The integration of IoT (Internet of Things) devices allows growers to manage and monitor conditions remotely, reducing manual labour and operational overhead. Lighting, irrigation, and even nutrient delivery are controlled via automated schedules, ensuring optimal growth at every stage of the plant’s lifecycle. This technological sophistication not only increases efficiency but also enhances yield – studies and pilot projects show yield improvements of up to 3-5 times when compared to open-field vanilla cultivation.

Another significant advantage is risk reduction. In traditional farming, a bad season or an unexpected storm can destroy entire crops. In contrast, a Vanilla Dome protects the crop from environmental threats, providing a stable, controlled growing space. The investment risk is further mitigated by the rising global demand for natural vanilla, which consistently outpaces supply. With prices for high-quality vanilla beans remaining strong, growers within domes can command premium prices for their produce.

For landowners in non-tropical areas, especially across Australia, the dome opens up new possibilities. Locations previously unsuitable for vanilla farming are now viable production sites, thanks to the dome’s microclimate technology. This democratisation of location provides a strategic advantage to investors seeking to diversify their agricultural portfolio or generate income from under-utilised land.

Beyond the financial appeal, investing in Vanilla Domes also contributes to sustainable agriculture. The closed-loop water system conserves water use, and solar-powered options reduce the carbon footprint of operations. Additionally, domes can support local economies by creating skilled jobs in agri-tech, horticulture, and supply chain management.

In summary, the Vanilla Dome is more than an innovative product – it is a vision of the future. It combines the high returns of vanilla cultivation with the stability and efficiency of advanced agri-tech. Whether you are an investor seeking a low-maintenance, highvalue asset, or a grower looking to maximise yields and minimise risk, the Vanilla Dome offers a smart, scalable, and sustainable solution. In a rapidly changing world, it’s not just a greenhouse –it’s green gold under glass.

Contact: David Soo 0404 116 988

dsoo@vanillaplantation.com.au

GROW THE FUTURE WITH VANILLA

re you a h o bby farmer, l an d owner, agri-entrepreneur or investor l oo k in g for a l ow-maintenance, h i gh -potentia l opportunit y ?

Discover the automated, climate-controlled Vanilla Dome – an innovative, self-regulating cultivation unit designed for maximum yield with minimal resource use. Developed in Australia, these domes use intelligent automation to manage temperature, humidity, and light cycles, allowing year-round vanilla flowering and production on demand.

Whether you’re:

- A hobby farmer wanting a sustainable side income, - A commercial grower looking to scale with precision,

- Or an investor seeking an eco-smart agri-tech asset, Vanilla Domes offer real returns – with water-saving design, energy efficiency, and minimal labour input.

Learn more or invest today: www.vanillaplantation.com.au Instagram: @australianvanillaplantations LinkedIn: Australian Vanilla Plantations

Contact: David Soo 0404 116 988 dsoo@vanillaplantation.com.au

Gondwana Landscaping and Stone

Founded by experienced landscape designer and stone mason, Mark Smith. With over 20 years of handson experience in both Australia and the UK, Mark brings a wealth of knowledge, creativity, and craftsmanship to every project he undertakes.

Mark is known for his ability to conceptualise distinctive and functional outdoor spaces that blend harmoniously with the natural environment of Byron Bay and its surrounds. Drawing inspiration from the local landscape, he incorporates native and endemic elements to craft gardens and stone features that feel deeply rooted in place.

A passionate designer with a commitment to integrity, quality workmanship, and transparent communication, Mark leads a team of dedicated professionals who share his drive for excellence. Together, they deliver exceptional landscaping solutions, on time and on budget –every time.

Outside of his work, Mark enjoys surfing, playing guitar and didgeridoo, always staying connected to the local culture and lifestyle that inspires his designs.

At Gondwana Landscaping and Stone, the mission is simple: To design and construct unique outdoor spaces that reflect each client’s individual style

– spaces that are not only beautiful, but also practical, sustainable, and enduring.

From native gardens to bespoke stone features, every project is approached with a commitment to creativity, functionality, and excellence.

Gondwana’s reputation is built on trust, reliability, and consistently outstanding results. Clients frequently comment on the seamless project management, clear communication, creative solutions, and attention to detail that set the team apart.

Whether it’s managing complex builds or fine-tuning design elements, Gondwana Landscaping and Stone delivers landscaping services to the

highest standard across Byron Bay and the Northern Rivers region.

Serving Byron Bay and beyond

Proudly servicing Byron Bay, Ocean Shores, Brunswick Heads, Suffolk Park, New Brighton, South Golden Beach, and surrounding areas, Gondwana Landscaping and Stone uses locallysourced materials and native plant species to create authentic, lowimpact gardens with a strong sense of place.

Imagine your own subtropical oasis

Step into a garden that feels like a natural extension of the Byron Bay hinterland—a tranquil space where beauty meets function.

Gondwana specialises in creating outdoor environments that not only look stunning but are also deeply connected to the local ecosystem.

With extensive experience in native and Indigenous landscape design, every project is shaped by an understanding of the land, climate, and lifestyle of the Northern Rivers.

Services

Landscape design

Collaborate with experienced landscape designers to develop tailored concept designs and master plans that meet your vision and comply with local Council regulations.

Landscape construction & stonemasonry

From innovative stonework and structural retaining walls to ecoconscious pool surrounds and

outdoor

bespoke garden features, the team delivers robust construction solutions that are both beautiful and enduring.

Native landscape design

Specialists in native and endemic planting schemes, Gondwana integrates ecological principles into every design to support biodiversity and sustainability.

Garden maintenance

Maintain a vibrant and healthy garden with expert care and sustainable irrigation solutions—perfect for residential properties across Byron Bay and the north coast of NSW.

Design features

Enhance your space with thoughtful additions such as:

•Fire pits for cosy gatherings

•Garden lighting for atmosphere and safety

•Water features for year-round tranquility.

The Gondwana difference

What sets Gondwana apart is not just the creativity or craftsmanship, but the complete experience: expert advice, local knowledge, reliability, and a genuine passion for bringing outdoor spaces to life.

Let Gondwana Landscaping and Stone transform your outdoor area into a space that truly reflects your lifestyle and the natural beauty of Byron Bay.

Working together for creative solutions

It doesn’t matter whether your project is big or small, the importance of bringing together the skills, experience, and help you need to achieve it is what makes it a success.

It might be your dream home that you are looking to create, an investment, a commercial or a residential development – regardless of what you are creating you will need a myriad of different people, skills and understanding of the project to make it a success.

It is the estate agents, legal and conveyancing who work with you from the very beginning when you are looking for the right property, it is the architects and designers who are helping you conceptualise your ideas, it is the builders, tilers, stone masons, electricians, data and tech wizards who can bring you into the next century through to the interior landscape and designers that ultimately work as a team who work to bring your vision to completion.

From the zoning of the land and the designing and building your project to the landscaping – bringing your idea to fruition is no small achievement and having a cohesive group of people who can work together supportively is a key element to success.

A holistic approach is vital in terms of bringing a range of elements together to start people off on the right foot for their journey. From determining what land is appropriate for your home or development and understanding whether you can build or do those things you expect to on a site is a key first step.

With a good solicitor, and with conveyancing, they can offer development advice so it makes the process more manageable.

Historically, different businesses operated independently, often not working together effectively, people were often forced to try and bring different elements together themselves rather than work closely with town planners, developers, builders and designers who would support the client and their vision.

Bringing a vision together and moving a project forward as a cohesive concept is vital. That also

involves bringing the right people together who are moving forward with the same vision, styles and understanding.

‘When all the key elements of a build process are aligned like architecture, interior design, and construction, it ensures that the vision is cohesive and that everything fits together perfectly,’ explained Sarah Marriott from SJS Interior Design.

‘It also reduces the chances of miscommunication or delays. The earlier you can engage the interior designer the better, as we will see holes and opportunities that may not be possible later in the process.

‘Another point is that collaboration between these different experts often leads to more innovative ideas and a more efficient use of resources, which ultimately benefits the client and the team involved. It’s very expensive to build or renovate a home and mistakes or delays can be costly. Consideration and planning with the right team goes a long way when building

Mark Smith from Gondwana Landscaping & Stone agrees saying that it is essential that the landscaping complements the aesthetic of the

house and the broader landscape for a truly successful outcome.

‘If the project is one with modern design, then you use materials and designs that work with those. It is about keeping intrinsic value,’ he said.

‘We work with the land using the contours and other elements. As a primarily native plant company we are trying to enhance both the physical landscape and the structures that are in it. It is really important to have people you can trust and work with so that you can get the right outcomes.’

They feature the use of local plants and stone and highlight that this also allows them to have a lower carbon footprint.

‘We use local nurseries and while sometimes we might pay a bit more to shop local, the bigger benefit is a better world’.

For a cohesive outcome that works you need to work with everyone from the architects, to the lighting specialists, to understand how everything from building to the furnishings and art contributes to the final vision.

Refinancing your home loan –whether by negotiating a better deal with your current lender or switching to a new one – could save you thousands over the life of your loan.

However, it won’t be the right decision for everyone. And there are some important things to know about how the process works –including hidden costs and risks.

What is refinancing?

Refinancing simply means replacing your existing home loan with a new one – either from your current lender or a different one. The goal? To take advantage of better loan terms.

If you’re on a ‘variable rate’ loan, your lender may already be passing on some or all of the recent rate cut (though you may have had to opt-in).

But if you’re on a ‘fixed rate’ loan, your repayments will stay the same until your fixed term ends – meaning you might not benefit from the cut unless you refinance (though break costs could apply).

Switching to a loan with a lower rate can mean smaller monthly repayments. Or, by keeping repayments the same size but with a lower interest rate, you could potentially pay off a loan faster and save in the long term.

Refinancing activity has been trending up since 2021, with external refinancing (switching banks) rising significantly among both owner-occupiers and investors. That’s a clear sign many borrowers are chasing better deals

Can refinancing

save you money?

Yes – if it’s right for you and you do it right. Switching to a lower interest rate could slash thousands off your yearly repayments.

If you’ve built up equity, you might be able to release funds to reinvest or improve your property. Some lenders also offer refinancing cashback deals – one-off payments to attract new customers.

There are some important things to consider –including some traps to avoid – if you’re thinking about refinancing your home loan.

1. Be mindful of your loan-tovalue ratio

Loan-to-value ratio (LVR) is the amount you borrowed as a percentage of the property’s value or purchase price.

If your LVR is above 80%, you probably paid lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) on your original loan, designed to protect the lender in case you default.

If your current loan still exceeds 80% of your home’s value (based on the new lender’s valuation), you might need to pay LMI again. That cost could wipe out any benefit from a lower rate.

2. Careful how you compare When comparing rates and repayments, make sure you’re comparing apples with apples.

If you’ve already paid five years on a 30-year loan, you have 25 years left. But when you ask a new lender for a quote, they may show repayments

based on a full 30-year term – which could make the monthly repayment look much lower.

To make a fair comparison, ask for quotes based on your remaining loan term. If you decide to switch, aiming for a loan with the same term can help you avoid paying more interest in the long run.

3. Factor in all associated costs

Refinancing comes with costs. These may include:

•break fees if you’re leaving a fixed-term loan early

•settlement fees for your current lender to close out the loan

•application and valuation fees with the new lender

•ongoing monthly fees that might not seem large but can add up over time.

Also, if you’re applying to multiple lenders to compare offers, be aware requesting multiple credit checks in a short space of time can negatively impact your credit score.

4. Consider renegotiating with your existing lender first

Lenders rarely offer their best deals to existing customers – unless you ask. In fact, they often reserve the most attractive deals for new customers.

Consider picking up the phone and asking for a rate review. If you have a better offer from another bank, you may be able to use that as leverage.

Staying with your current lender can have advantages. It may be quicker and easier than refinancing with another lender. But don’t let loyalty cost you – especially if better rates are on the table elsewhere.

5. Don’t assume your repayments will drop automatically

For borrowers on variable loans, some banks don’t automatically reduce your repayments after a rate cut. You may need to manually adjust them through your bank’s app or website, or ‘opt in’.

Alternatively, keeping your repayment amount the same could help you pay off your loan faster and reduce interest costs.

6. Check your credit score before applying

Your credit score can play a key role in refinancing. Lenders use it to assess how risky it is to lend to you – and it can affect the interest rate you’re offered.

If your score has dropped since you first took out your loan, you may not qualify for the best deals. Check your score through your bank or a free online service before you apply. If it’s low, take time to improve it before refinancing to boost your chances of approval and better rates.

For an estimate of your potential savings from refinancing, try the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)’s MoneySmart mortgage switching calculator.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

Head to the Echo’s Service Directory for all your professional trade services

The Byron Shire Echo’s Service Directory is a comprehensive listing of trades and services. If you’re working on your home or space and need a job done, find a local tradie quickly and easily here. Pages 43 to 46 of this paper.

• Air Conditioning

• Blinds

• Bricklaying

• Carpentry & Joinery

• Cleaning

• Concreting

• Driveways

• Earthworks/Excavation

• Electricians

• Fencing

• Garden & Property Maintenance

• Guttering/Roofing • Handypersons • Landscaping

Painting

Pest Control • Plastering/Rendering • Plumbing • Septic Systems

Solar

Tiling

Tree Services • Window Tinting & much much more!

paper each week and online at www.echo.net.au

Here to bring your property d evelo p ment vision to life.

With MANA, you get all your property development needs met in one place. With our team of experts, no detail is overlooked and everything is done in-house.

We have engaged the best minds in not just the real estate industry but the marketing and technology industries, too. Our sales consultants are renowned for their outstanding sales records and unlike other real estate agencies, we have in-house marketing and tech teams, leading the way with innovative strategies for the future of real estate and property development.

Our accomplished team have been successfully involved with exceptional local projects including Hundred Hills Estate in Murwillumbah, Pinnacle Estate in Goonellabah and Panorama Tweed Valley Estate.

extensive experience across multiple developments, ensuring seamless support and coordination. Complementing this is a team of outstanding sales consultants with years of industry expertise, dedicated to delivering exceptional service & results.

Discover how we can elevate your next project, contact MANA to d ay.

MANA is at the forefront of marketing technology, beyond Proptech, and the only real estate group providing uniquely tailored property marketing. We optimise the timing and targeting of messages, offers and customer engagement activities, which enables the analysis of individual-level customer behaviour.

“There is no need to engage a marketing agency as part of your strategy, let us take care of it for you.”

Julie - Ann Manahan MANA Founder Selling Principal

0411 081 118 jam@manare.au 02 6680 5000

Good Taste

Federal Hotel

Mon–Sat 10am–late, Sun 10am–10pm

Bistro Fri & Sat: 11.30am–2pm & 5.30pm–9pm Bistro Sun–Thurs: 11.30am–2pm & 5.30pm–8pm 77 Main St, Alstonville 02 6628 0719 thefedhotel.com.au

Serving amazing food, cold beers, delicious cocktails and a carefully curated wine menu, with a family-friendly atmosphere.

Sit on the front balcony for a drink in the sun or enjoy a meal in the dining room by the fire place. This historic building and its genuine and friendly staff will have you feeling like it’s your local in no time.

Australian Hotel Ballina

Open Daily Pub Meals: Tue–Sat, Lunch & Dinner • Cantina: Wed–Sat, Lunch & Dinner • Sunday Lunch: 12–4pm 103 River St, Ballina @australianhotelballina

Ballina’s go-to for classic pub meals, bold Mexican, cold pints & cheeky margs. Live music, DJs, $9 Pacific Ale and free feed for the kids on Sundays.

Mention this ad for a free house beer or soft drink with any main meal. australianhotelballina.com.au

Rosefina’s Mexican

12pm–8pm 8/10 Wilfred St, Billinudgel www.rosefinas.place

Roca Byron Bay

Mon to Thurs: Brunch 7am – 2pm, Dinner 5 – 10pm Fri to Sun open all day 7am – 10pm 14 Lawson St, Byron Bay (02) 5642 0149 @rocabyronbay www.rocabyronbay.com.au

Horizon Rooftop

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 7 DAYS

Horizon Rooftop, Hotel Marvell 4 Marvell Street, Byron Bay

Open Daily | 12pm – late NO BOOKINGS REQUIRED Call: (02) 6685 7385 @horizonbyronbay

Forest Byron Bay

Open 7 days

Breakfast: 7.30 to 10.30am

Lunch on Verandah from 12 to 3pm Dinner: 5.30 to 9pm crystalbrookcollection.com/ byron/forest

Oyster Bar

4 Marvell St, Byron Bay

OPEN 7 DAYS

Breakfast 7–11:30am

Lunch 12–4pm

Dinner 5–10pm Book byronbayoysterbar.com.au

Main Street

Open for takeaway daily, 12 midday until dinner.

Menu, more details –@mainstreet_burgerbar

18 Jonson Street (02) 6680 8832

Rosefina has decided it’s time to dig through her vinyl collection for Friday nights.

Latin fusion all-day dining

Savour our chargrilled anticuchos, indulge in fresh ceviche & oysters, or elevate your night with the Roca dining experience. Pair it all with a classic Pisco Sour or our best-selling Hot Like Papi cocktail HAPPY HOUR

2 for 1 cocktails & beers / 5 – 7pm / Sun to Thurs Tuesdays: $3 Oysters from 5pm

Welcome to Horizon, Byron’s newest rooftop bar.

Enjoy hinterland views, stunning sunsets and signature cocktails showcasing local distilleries and breweries.

Rainforest views, farm to table dining and a menu showcasing the best of Northern Rivers produce. Forest Byron Bay offers fresh, seasonal dishes and crafted cocktails.

Unwind with Golden Hour, 4 to 6pm Tuesday to Saturday, or enjoy house-made pasta with wine for Pasta Thursday.

Hotel Marvell’s newest seafood destination

OYSTER HOUR Tuesday to Saturday 5–6pm  Serving $3 oysters

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.

Eateries Guide

Find more tasty morsels at

BYRON BAY

ALSTONVILLE

BALLINA

BYRON BAY

The Good Life

Attica chef Ben Shewry: be kinder to all things rather than toxic

Melbourne’s culinary icon and award-winning restaurateur Ben Shewry – of Attica fame – takes centre stage at the 2025 Byron Writers Festival. Ben will appear across two captivating sessions on Saturday, 9 August including a discussion on his absorbing memoirmeets-manifesto Uses for Obsession.

In Uses for Obsession, you challenge toxic chef culture and the myths around sustainability, while offering a hopeful vision for hospitality. What conversations do you hope this book sparks in the food world and beyond?

That we need to be kinder to all things – people, community, the planet. The old ways are corrupt and broken. It is upon each of us to neither accept old tropes nor perpetuate them. There are no more excuses, and there’s no time to wait.

Get out there, give a damn and be more fearless.

If readers could take just one thing from your book, what would you want it to be?

That few of us are just ‘a pawn in the game’. If we choose to, we can step back from the machinery of our lives, and see that we all have some purchase, some power to change things in simple and small ways for ourselves and others. And that those ways can be life-changing.

The theme for Byron Writers Festival is Passion and Purpose. How do you personally define passion and purpose, and how do these definitions shape you as a writer and chef?

To me, passion and purpose combined becomes obsession, and that never gets tired. Creatively, if a person truly loves doing something then they need to find ways to protect it throughout their life. To get to the true purpose of it. When they do, nothing will be able to stop them because it is love we are talking about, not fakeness, fluff or hyperbole.

Shewry will appear at Byron Writers Festival: Saturday 9 August – Uses for Obsession 10:30am to 11:30am Saturday 9 August – Food and Passion 4:30pm to 5:30pm

Open 6am – 12pm Monday – Saturday Shop 6/108 Stuart Street Mullumbimby.

Thirty years of organic farming: a conversation with Sue Managan, wife of organic pioneer David Forrest

For three decades, Sue Managan and her husband, David Forrest, have been at the heart of the Northern Rivers’ organic farming movement. As one of the first certified organic growers in the region, David helped lay

Glow & Graze

2 x facial treatments at Osprey Spa & Chocolate Assiette Tower to share at Azure Bar and Grill Available Monday to Thursday for $380 for two people.

the groundwork for what has become a thriving, conscious food culture, one rooted in care for the land, community health, and real flavour.

‘When we first started, we were the only certifiedorganic farmers at the market,’ Sue says. ‘Now, it’s amazing to see how many new growers are organic too.’

At their weekly stall at Mullum Farmers Market, Sue offers more than just seasonal fruit and vegetables, she’s curating a natural medicine cabinet, especially welcome on a chilly winter morning. Their famous Jamu, a traditional Balinese tonic made with turmeric, ginger, tamarind, citrus and honey, is a bestseller, alongside a fiery Fire Cider packed with horseradish, garlic, and lemon. ‘It’ll give your taste buds a workout,’ Sue laughs. ‘And if you’re congested, it’ll clear you out fast.’

The stall also features house-grown and roasted Arabica coffee, known for its mellow, low-caffeine profile, as well as fresh macadamia spreads, ground just before market, Davidson plum

jam, and sushi-style pickled ginger – seasonal highlights that include early Italian garlic bulbs, Chinese cabbage, and Brussels sprouts.

‘David has always believed food should be medicine,’ Sue says. ‘We make and grow everything ourselves with no shortcuts – just simple, clean, fresh ingredients.’

Organic farming may be more labour-intensive, she notes, but direct-to-customer selling keeps prices accessible – and freshness unbeatable.

‘It’s picked the day before,’ she says. ‘At its peak for nutrition, texture and flavour.’ Thirty years on, Sue and David remain pioneers – not only in the paddock, but in the hearts (and bellies) of the community they’ve helped nourish for a generation.

Find Organic Forrest every Tuesday at New Brighton Farmers Market from 8am to 11am and every Friday at Mullum Farmers Market from 7am to 11am.

Ben

Volume 4008

30–6 January, 2025

Editor: Eve Jeffery

Editorial/gigs: gigs@echo.net.au

Copy deadline: 5pm each Thursday

Gig Guide deadline: 5pm each Friday

Advertising: adcopy@echo.net.au

P: 02 6684 1777

W: echo.net.au/entertainment

seven days of entertainment

Poetry, power and performance

If you’re looking for an evening that moves beyond the page, check out Beyond the Lines, Byron Writers Festival’s electrifying feature event – held at the historic A&I Hall in Bangalow on Saturday, August 9. This is a one-night-only celebration of spoken word, music and performance poetry that promises to be a highlight of the 2025 festival program.

Presented in partnership with Red Room Poetry to mark Poetry Month, Beyond the Lines brings together a powerhouse lineup of acclaimed poets, musicians and wordsmiths for a night of poetry, music and raw truth.

Headlining the evening is acclaimed rapper, writer and activist Ziggy Ramo, whose fusion of hip-hop and truth-telling has won him national acclaim. Joining Ziggy is Nardi Simpson, award-winning author and founding member of Indigenous vocal duo Stiff Gins. Nardi brings a rich blend of storytelling, music and cultural knowledge to the stage.

Known for his dynamic delivery, award-winning poet and performer David Stavanger, will add edge and unpredictability to the evening. Renowned

for his bilingual poetry and sharp social commentary, from India, Akhil Katyal brings an international voice to the lineup.

Also featured are powerhouse First Nations poets Kirli Saunders, an award-winning multidisciplinary artist and NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year; Bebe Oliver, a Bardi Jawi poet and storyteller whose work celebrates connection to Country; and Laurie May, a fierce spoken-word artist and poetry educator from Mparntwe (Alice Springs).

Rounding out the evening is acclaimed Northern Rivers poet Sarah Temporal, along with rising stars from Poets Out Loud and finalists from the Australian Poetry Slam, who will inject fresh perspectives into an already electric lineup.

With an impressive range of styles and cultural perspectives, expect rhythm, rage, humour and heart, delivered in powerful bursts of live poetry and music.

Doors open at 7.30pm, with food and the festival bar available. General admission is $30 ($25 for Friends of the Festival), and tickets are available now via the Byron Writers Festival website – www. byronwritersfestival.com.

Embrace the season’s magic

This is the next WAVE

Calling all design artists, fashion innovators, culture initiators and wearable inventors!

Shearwater is thrilled to announce the launch of WAVE 2025: Runway Gods –the 25th year of the Mullumbimby Steiner School’s Wearable Arts performance event.

WAVE (Wearable Arts Vision in Education) is a major annual event in Shearwater’s performing arts calendar, showcasing wearable artworks entered by designers and students from around Australia, in a highly professional, choreographed production that encompasses design, music, dance, drama and technology.

Whether you are an emerging artist, a student, an industry professional or a wearable arts savant, it’s time to unleash your creative design skills and begin to imagine your costume entry for WAVE 2025. With five exciting design sections to be inspired by, garments can be sewn, riveted, welded, glued, painted, collaged, knitted, woven, built and assembled from metal, leather, rubber, natural fibres, industrial waste and recycled objects. Entries will be assessed by a panel of independent judges and vie for a prize pool of more than $8,000.

According to WAVE Director Joshua Rushton, the arrival of the competition garments in October provides the final inspiration for the show’s narrative. ‘As the designers fire up their imaginations and begin to develop their unique creations, students, teachers and community artists are engaged in developing the music, costume, choreography, set design, film and special effects.’

‘In this sense, Shearwater’s Wearable Arts event has built, over its quarter century, an incredible production dynamic – a true artistic interface between high school and world. A competition that goes out to the community; a high school production that builds an incredible show around an inspiring theme… and finally the integration of competition entries that brings the show to life.’

You are invited to join in and check out the WAVE website for all the info you need to enter a garment in this year’s competition – section criteria, entry form and inspiration: shearwater.nsw.edu.au/wave.

Laughing Matters for Homelessness Week

Nationally lauded and universally loved, Akmal heads the bill for Agape’s Laughing Matters Fundraiser, proving it’s possible to laugh your socks off for a good cause!

As part of National Homelessness Week (August 4 to 10), Agape Outreach is bringing the community together for an evening of comedy, compassion and connection.

Every night in Australia more than 122,000 people don’t have a safe place to call home. Almost a quarter are children or young people under the age of 24.

Northern NSW has the longest median wait times for social housing in the state –exceeding five years. South East QLD has been labelled the homelessness capital of Australia with a 22 per cent increase in homelessness over five years – nearly triple the national average.

This August, let’s turn laughter into lasting change – in the fight to end homelessness in our local community.

Join the fun on Wednesday, August 6 at Club Tweed for a hilarious night of

standup comedy hosted by none other than local legend Mandy Nolan. Known for her razor-sharp wit and a heart of gold, Mandy will be joined by two of Australia’s finest comedic talents – the other half of Women Like Us, natural born storyteller, mother of twins and now keen golfer, Ellen Briggs and Egyptian-Australian comedian Akmal, master of dealing with difficult subjects with a genius universality.

The comedians are all donating their time to the cause because they believe everyone deserves a home. All proceeds from the night will go directly towards supporting Agape Outreach’s work in the local community, serving the homeless and the needy – providing meals, outreach support and vital services to those who need it most.

Comedy Night, Wednesday, August 6 from 7.30pm at Club Tweed.

Tickets $40 on sale now – don’t wait, tickets will sell out! tinyurl.com/ HomelessnessWeekComedy.

Eclectic Selection

What’s on this week

Stephen Lovelight plays faithfully in the style of Robert Johnson and Skip James, pushing his voice and guitar ever in the direction of some kind of facsimile of truth – not always pretty, but always very sweaty – he means what he says even if not saying what he means.

Wednesday at The Rails Byron Bay. Free show.

July’s Big Gig Free Live Comedy event delivers funny stuff from Mick Neven – with 20 years of standup comedy under his belt, Mick is a regular at comedy clubs around Australia, as well as through Asia, Canada and the UK.

Thursday from 7pm at Ballina RSL, Level One. Free show.

After ten years of writing, rehearsing, creating, and performing together, it is time for The Loveys to say farewell. In 2025, The mighty Loveys embark on their final journey – a glam cabaret/folk show which features the best of The Loveys over ten years. If you’ve never seen The Loveys, it’s now or never!

Friday at 7pm at The Citadel, Murwillumbah. Tickets $30 from humanitix.com/au or $35 at the door.

Mullumbimby-based choir and orchestra, Amatori, will be performing their winter concert featuring composers such as Beethoven, Bach, Monteverdi, Gluck and Duruflé.

Saturday from 3pm at St John’s School Hall, Mullumbimby. Tickets $30/$25 and school-aged children are free. Tickets at the door or at Denise’s bookshop in Burringbar Street.

The Robertson Brothers1960s Variety TV Show is an interactive theatrical TV experience filled with all the fun, music and long-forgotten memories of the fabulous 1960s.

Saturday at 7pm at the Byron Theatre. Tickets: $79.95 from byroncentre. com.au.

The Soren Carlbergg Quartet is a ‘house band’ at the Ballina RSL Blues Club – Soren shares vocal and guitar duties with the very talented Louis Muller, a young man with a great blues ‘feel’ and plenty of hot guitar licks, along with the rhythm section of Martin (the dancing bass-man) and the anchor, Derek Armistead on skins.

Sunday from 2.30pm at the Ballina RSL Boardwalk. Free show.

CC The Cat is a bangin’ seven-piece that has been touring for nearly two decades, has released four albums, and features some of the country’s best musicians, consistently proving themselves to be one of the most-loved and revered acts on the Australian roots scene.

Sunday from 4pm at the Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heads. Free show.

Dance with your inner flame

Hoodoo Gurus – a wild time for wildlife

Iconic Australian rock legends the Hoodoo Gurus will headline a powerful night of music and purpose in Byron Bay on Saturday, September 27, leading a star-studded bill for the Wild Aid benefit concert in support of Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital.

Joining the Gurus on the lineup will be special guest Toni Childs, renowned for her soulful vocals and Grammy-nominated career, along with Brisbane power-pop favourites Screamfeeder and retro-inspired groove/boogie band The Honey Sliders, known for their high-energy live shows and heartfelt tributes to classic albums.

The benefit concert aims to raise critical funds for the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, which provides lifesaving veterinary care for sick, injured and orphaned native animals.

Wildlife Hospital Founder and CEO, Dr Stephen Van Mil, says native animals face peril every day from habitat loss, pollution, road trauma, feral pests and introduced disease. ‘We are truly honoured to have the Hoodoo Gurus, Toni Childs, Screamfeeder and The Honey Sliders donate their talents to support our veterinary hospital’s lifesaving work for native animals.’ All proceeds from the event will directly support lifesaving veterinary treatment and longterm rehabilitation of native birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, including threatened species.

Frontman of the Hoodoo Gurus, Dave Faulkner, says the band are thrilled to be part of something so meaningful. ‘Byron Bay is a place we love, and this concert gives us the chance to give back in a big way to help protect our incredible wildlife.’

Staged at the 1,600-capacity Green Room on the 300-acre home of Bluesfest Byron Bay, the one-night-only event promises a spirited atmosphere filled with live music, community goodwill and conservation awareness.

Early bird tickets are on sale now, and the event is expected to sell out quickly, with lovers of music and wildlife flocking to support a great cause – #rockforthewildlife. Tickets for the 18+ event are available at Moshtix.

GIG GUIDE

rbrighter

Bigger, brighter and magical

One of the region’s most treasured events is back to ignite the winter sky once more –the Newrybar Bonfire & Fireworks Night is on this Saturday at Newrybar Public School, promising a high-energy evening of family fun and nostalgic community vibes.

In its 37th year, this beloved grassroots event continues to grow in both scale and spirit. With a giant bonfire, fairground rides, kids disco and the spectacular fireworks display, it’s one you don’t want to miss.

Bring your picnic blankets, beanies, and winter woollies and settle in for a magical night under the stars. From torchlit kids chasing glow sticks, to local treats, games and toe-tapping music, there’s something for everyone:

GIANT BONFIRE – warming hearts and fingers alike;

DJ Shorty Brown Disco – dancing and fun for all ages; fairground rides, slides and obstacle course – arrive early to make the most of the action; face-painting and Winter Sprite Stilt Walker

MEGA PRIZE raffle – get your tickets and cross your fingers

DELICIOUS LOCAL EATS – with vegetarian and glutenfree options available, cakes and hot drinks – perfect for cool evenings; and of course

THE FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR – at 7.30pm.

This fundraiser directly supports Newrybar Public School’s P&C for arts, sports, wellbeing and environmental programs including the much-loved carbon offset initiative with Bangalow Koalas, generously supported by Off Grid Electrical Solutions.

Rug-up, roundup the kids and join them for a night of nostalgia and neighbourhood magic.

Saturday at Newrybar Public School. Gates open at 4pm – fireworks at 7:30pm (event finishes at 8pm). Entry: $5 per person or $20 per family.

Parking: Newrybar Public School carpark, along Broken Head Road and Hinterland Way.

For up-to-date information follow @newrybarfireworks on Instagram.

With thanks to Sotheby’s International Real Estate, Byron Bay.

WEDNESDAY 30

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, STEPHEN LOVELIGHT

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM TAHLIA MATHESON

THE NORTHERN, BYRON

BAY, 6PM JASON DELPHIN, 9PM DUELING PIANOS: JON SHORTER & BODHI ACTON

BANGALOW BOWLO 7.30PM

BANGALOW BOWLO

BANGALOW BRACKETS’

OPEN MIC SESSION

THE PADDOCK PROJECT, MULLUMBIMBY, 4PM OPEN MIC JAM

KINGSCLIFF BEACH BOWLS

6.30PM KINGY COMEDY –MICK NEVEN

THURSDAY 31

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, THE GIN BUGGS

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM MAJESTIC KNIGHTS

THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 5PM DAN HANNAFORD, 6PM

SPANGLED THURSDAY

FT. FLYING GIANT, PARHELION, ARHELION & GLADIOLUS, 9PM

DUELING PIANOS: JON

SHORTER & SAM WHEAT

KELP, BALLINA, 6PM LILY GRACE GRANT

BALLINA RSL LEVEL ONE 7PM THE BIG GIG COMEDY NIGHT

HOTEL BRUNSWICK 6PM HAYLEY GRACE

SAINT MARIES, BRUNSWICK HEADS, 6PM MONDO HUM

ELTHAM HOTEL 6PM BLUEGRASS JAM

LISMORE CITY BOWLO 7PM THE SUPPER CLUB SOUL BAND

LENNOX HOTEL 8PM THURSDAY JAM NIGHT

FRIDAY 1

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, EPIC

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 5PM AMBER ROSE DUO + FAT ALBERT

BYRON THEATRE 6.30PM THE ROAD TO PATAGONIA

NORTH BYRON HOTEL

4.30PM DJ DAVI BANGMA

ELEMENTS OF BYRON 5PM KYLE LIONHART

HOWL & MOAN, BYRON BAY, 7PM BOOF HEADS W/ HAPPY FAMILY & SCRAPES

CLUB LENNOX 7PM MATT DAY TRIO

HOTEL BRUNSWICK 6PM DJ WHO’S WHO

BRUNSWICK HEADS

PICTURE HOUSE 7PM IAN DOWLING

WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 4PM DJ

SALVE JORGE

ST JOHN’S SCHOOL

HALL, MULLUMBIMBY, 7.30PM ECSTATIC DANCE

MULLUM WITH DJ WILD HONEY

MIDDLE PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 8PM

KRAPPYOKEE WITH JESS

THE LEVEE, LISMORE, 8.30PM MCCOY

MURWILLUMBAH SERVICES

CLUB 6.30PM PHIL GUEST

THE CITADEL, MURWILLUMBAH, 7PM THE LOVEYS

SALTBAR, KINGSCLIFF, 3PM SALI BRACEWELL

COOLANGATTA HOTEL 8PM THE CHRIS CORNELL COLLECTION

SATURDAY 2

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, MARSHALL OKELL BAND

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 3PM TIAGO FREITAS + JAMES ALEXANDER DUO

BYRON THEATRE 7PM THE ROBERTSON BROTHERS 1960S VARIETY TV SHOW

NORTH BYRON HOTEL

12PM DJ MR NICE + WILL CONNELL

PEARCES CREEK HALL, PEARCES CREEK, 6PM

HUXLEY AND FRIEL WITH HOOTENANNY HIGHWAY

BANGALOW HOTEL KB BURNNAND

BANGALOW BOWLO 8PM

THEBUCKLEYS

HOTEL BRUNSWICK

10.30AM INO PIO + THE LYRICAL

ST JOHN’S SCHOOL HALL, MULLUMBIMBY, 3PM AMATORI

WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 4PM DJ

JAX

BILLINUDGEL HOTEL 5PM

JB’S BLUES BREAKERS

THE LEVEE, LISMORE, 7.30PM DRAG NIGHT – ‘RU BELLA’

ELTHAM HOTEL 7PM

JORDAN IRELAND

MURWILLUMBAH SERVICES CLUB 6.30PM STEPHEN LOVELIGHT

SUNDAY 3

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, MOBIUS

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 4.30PM BARNES STORM

BANGALOW HOTEL THE HILLBILLY SKANK

BALLINA RSL LEVEL ONE 10AM THE BALLINA COUNTRY MUSIC CLUB, BOARDWALK 2.30PM BALLINA BLUES CLUB FEAT SOREN CARLBERGG

QUARTET + LOUIS MULLER

AUSTRALIAN HOTEL, BALLINA, 2PM SONIC FX

WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 3PM DJ

MONSIEUR DIOP

HOTEL BRUNSWICK 4PM CC THE CAT + YAZMINDI

BILLINUDGEL HOTEL 1PM NUKAKADU

LISMORE CITY BOWLO 2PM

LISMORE JAZZ CLUB – DE ZIAH & DATE

ELTHAM HOTEL 4PM AZO BELL & THE NEIGHBOURS FROM HELL

TWIN TOWNS, TWEED HEADS, THE SHOWROOM 2.30PM THE ROBERTSON BROTHERS 2025 COOLANGATTA HOTEL 7PM NORTHLANE

MONDAY 4

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM LEIGH JAMES

TUESDAY 5

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, JASON DELPHIN BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM JASON DELPHIN TWIN TOWNS, TWEED HEADS, THE SHOWROOM 11AM PAUL TABONE

WEDNESDAY 6

4:15PM, 7:45PM. Sat, Sun: 1:10PM, 4:00PM, 8:00PM. Mon: 1:10PM, 4:15PM, 8:00PM FOUR LETTERS OF LOVE (M) Thurs, Fri, Tues, Wed: 3:40PM, 5:30PM. Sat, Sun: 1:20PM, 5:50PM. Mon: 3:40PM

FRIENDSHIP (M) Daily except Sat, Sun: 1:20PM I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER (MA15+) Daily except Thurs: 8:30PM JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH (M) Thurs: 1:20PM, 4:00PM, 7:50PM. Fri, Mon, Tues: 1:45PM, 4:30PM, 7:15PM. Sat, Sun: 1:15PM, 7:15PM. Wed: 1:30PM, 4:10PM OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH (PG) Daily: 1:30PM SUPERMAN (M) Thurs: 11:00AM, 1:40PM, 8:00PM. Fri, Mon, Tues, Wed: 11:00AM, 1:40PM, 7:20PM. Sat, Sun: 10:45AM, 1:20PM, 6:45PM THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (PG) Thurs: 11:00AM, 1:20PM, 3:45PM, 6:10PM. Fri, Tues, Wed: 11:00AM, 1:20PM, 3:45PM, 6:10PM, 8:00PM. Sat, Sun: 10:45AM, 1:20PM, 3:45PM, 6:10PM, 8:10PM. Mon: 11:00AM, 1:20PM, 3:45PM, 6:10PM, 8:10PM THE FRIEND (M) Daily except Mon: 11:00AM, 3:30PM, 6:00PM. Mon: 11:00AM, 3:30PM, 5:40PM THE STOLEN PAINTING (M) NFT Daily except Sat, Sun: 11:20AM, 1:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:00PM. Sat, Sun: 11:20AM, 1:30PM, 3:45PM, 6:00PM TOGETHER (MA15+) NFT Daily except Thurs, Sat: 4:00PM, 6:10PM, 8:20PM. Thurs: 4:15PM, 6:45PM, 8:30PM. Sat: 3:45PM, 5:50PM, 8:45PM

F1: THE MOVIE (M) Thurs, Fri, Tues, Wed: 9:45AM. Sun: 11:45AM GIGI (PG) MATINEE

PALACE BYRON BAY

BALLINA FAIR CINEMAS

Classifieds

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 (box ads) and line classifieds, email: 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.

Mullumbimby & District

Neighbourhood Centre

Connecting the Byron Shire Community

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

- Kitchen Hands -

- Retail Assistants -

PUBLIC NOTICES

LOCAL HIGHLAND BAGPIPER

Byron Shire: Weddings, Functions, Funerals, Tutoring Ph 0473 174 033

WHERE TO GET THE ECHO

If you live in Newrybar, Lennox Head or Ballina, but outside our current home delivery area, you can pick up an Echo from many locations, including: Newrybar Providore Newrybar; Richies IGA Ballina, Ballina RSL, One Stop Shop Ballina, Ballina Golf Club East Ballina, Brighton St Takeaway near the Shawsy, Seagrass Lennox, Lennox pub drive-through, Station St Grocer Lennox

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): $14 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

- Drivers and Co-driver -

- Community Support AssistantsMDNC is in needs of dedicated volunteers to be part of a big loving family. All skill sets welcome.

Contact SylviaVolunteer Coordinator Mon-Fri 6684 1286

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.

ROAD CLOSURE

PROPOSED ROAD CLOSING UNDER

SECTION

38B

ROADS ACT 1993

In pursuance of the provisions of the Roads Act 1993, notice is hereby given that Byron Shire Council proposes to close the following council public roads listed in Schedule 1. Schedule 1:

•Part road reserve adjoining 201 Flowers Road, BINNA BURRA, Lot 10 DP1084921.

•Part road reserve adjoining 180 Flowers Road, BINNA BURRA, Lot 3 DP1259194

Upon closure of the road, council intends to sell the land to the adjoining landowners.

All interested persons are hereby invited to make submissions concerning the proposal to the General Manager Mark Arnold, Byron Shire Council, PO Box 219 Mullumbimby NSW 2482, within twenty-eight days of the date of this advertisement. Please note that under the provisions of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009, such submissions may be referred to third parties for consideration.

Once the submission period is completed, Byron Shire Council will consider all duly made submissions before deciding whether to continue with the road closure proposal.

Council Ref: #E2025/77856

Enquiries: Tracy Armstrong

Telephone: 02 6626 7201

This document will be available on Council’s website at www.byron.nsw.gov.au/Public-Notice.

Submissions Close: Friday September 12, 2025.

LOLA HELEN JACEK (nee Noter)

Vale Ian “Straw Head” Sutherland, aka Mr Suth, 2/12/1935 - 22/7/2025

Dec 12, 1933 – July 20, 2025

Lola peacefully passed at home in Ocean Shores, surrounded by family after a short illness.

Loved mother of Diana, Tanya and Steven, and Sonya and John, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother.

Family and friends are warmly invited to celebrate Lola’s life on Wednesday 6th August 2025 at 12 noon at St Martin’s Anglican Church, Stuart St, Mullumbimby. The family requests that in lieu

Tweed or Byron Palliative Care Services.

Much loved husband, father, grandfather, mentor to many, and elder New Brighton surfing/fishing statesman. Ride on Poppa! 6684 6232

Helping to bring your nervous system – and the rest of you– into alignment with where you want to be.

Contact Kate for a free discovery call.

Linda Gardner, (née Keyte)

Classifieds

SHORT TERM ACCOM.

MUSICAL NOTES

ONLY ADULTS

On The Horizon

NOON FRIDAY

Email copy marked ‘On The Horizon’ to editor@echo.net.au.

Independent Retirees

SOCIAL

Two-year-old

who

head scratches,

spots for naps, and just being near his people.He’s affectionate without being demanding - the perfect mix of independence and sweetness. Mandatory Re-homing #R251 00 00 60

T: 6681 1860 E: shelter@nras.org.au W: www.nras.org.au

Peach is a soft and gentle 10yo boy, whose owner’s very sadly had to give him up. He is a lovely cat, happy to sit on laps, be picked up, good with other cats and children. As with most older cats that end up in shelters, he’s feeling lost and depressed, so we’re hoping some kind soul can give him a safe and loving ‘forever’ home soon! Desexed, vaccinated, microchip no 90032002142357 See Facebook for our latest cats.

To make an appointment 0403 533 589 • Billinudgel petsforlifeanimalshelter.net

The next meeting of the Australian Independent Retirees will be held, as usual, on the first Friday of the month, August 1. This meeting will be held at the Ballina RSL Club, 1 Grant Street, Ballina at 10am. Meeting and greeting members and friends will be held from 9.30am, so come along and warm to the moment. The guest speaker will be Brad Fisher, a former Qantas pilot.

Morning tea will be available prior to the speaker’s presentation and a $5 meeting fee will be charged to help defray these costs.

This gathering is open to all retirees who are welcome to join in with our Friendship and Fellowship and you never know, many a friendship has returned from as far back as schooldays, you never know who you will find at our meetings.

Any enquiries please contact the President, Jill Huxley on 6686 8958.

Lifelong

learning for the 3rd Age

Term 3 Tuesday forum 10-12am, 12 August Daniel Sulivan – martial arts for seniors. 26 August Des Wann – fashion, fads, and flipperies; 9 September – Creativity; 16 September – Schoon Water Projection Indonesia, 23 September excursion – Condong Sugar Mills. All interest groups will continue as usual. Volunteer Ukulele instructor needed to start new group. info@bru3a.org. Phone Denise 0423 778 573.

Family History Society

The next meeting of The RichmondTweed Family History Society will be held on Saturday, 2 August from 2pm to 4pm at Players Theatre, 24 Swift Street, Ballina. it will be the Society’s AGM followed by our ordinary general meeting which will be a webinar titled ‘What’s In Trove’. Discover Australia’s free online family history portal consisting of newspapers, journals, etc. For all other enquiries contact Vicki Evans The RichmondTweed Family History Society President on 0467 573 282.

Famous Five exhibition

The Famous Five from Bayside at Byron are still at it. They are not exploring ‘The Faraway Tree’ but

showcasing their new works in painting, photography and wool. See their exhibition in the Patrick Bugden V C Garden Community Room July 24 to August 12. Brunswick Valley Probus

The Brunswick Valley Probus Club Inc. meeting is on Tuesday, 5 August 10am at The Ocean Shores Country Club. The Guest speaker is Justine Elliot with what’s available for seniors in our area. Visitors welcome. Inquires ring Margaret on 6680 3316.  Byron Bay Library Byron Bay Library is very pleased to be acting as a Satellite Event Venue for the Byron Writers Festival, with this year’s Byron heat of the Australian Poetry Slam on Saturday 9 August at 3pm. For bookings and info visit byronwritersfestival.com/ satellite-events

Free wellbeing workshops

Quest for Life is running free wellbeing, empowering, and practical one-day workshops for people in the Northern Rivers area who are living with the challenges of rural and regional life. These ‘Your Life Matters’ workshops will take place: Tuesday, 12 August, 9.30am to 3pm at the Mullumbimby Golf Club, Mullumbimby. Wednesday, 13 August, 9.30am to 3pm at the Lismore Workers Club, Lismore. Thursday, 14 August, 9.30am to3pm at the Grafton District Services Club, Grafton. Organic Landcare

Organic Landcare’s next working bee is on Saturday, 9 August, from 8.30am until 1pm, at Saltwater Creek. Meet at Mullumbimby Community Garden carpark. Please wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants for sun protection and avoid scratches. Wear a hat, gloves and bring water and some morning tea, for a 11am break.

BV VIEW

The Brunswick Valley VIEW Club are holding their 40th birthday celebration on Thursday, 14 August with luncheon at the Brunswick Bowling Club. We have a very special guest speaker this year, Normie Rowe.

ECHO SERVICE DIRECTORY RATES, PAYMENT & DEADLINE

Deadline: For additions and changes is 12pm Friday

Line ads: $99 for 3 months or $340 for 1 year prepaid

Display ads: $70 per week for colour display ad. Minimum 8 week booking 4 weeks prepaid. Please supply display ads 85mm wide, 38mm high. New ads will be placed at end of section. Contact: 6684 1777 or adcopy@echo.net.au

www.echo.net.au/service-directory

Service Directory

HANDYPERSONS

446 BINNA BURRA ROAD, FEDERAL

Property Business Directory

@taratorkkolafirstnational @taratorkkola_realestate www.byronbayfn.com.au

Open For Inspection

First National Byron Bay

• 2/59 Brandon Street, Byron Bay. Wed 1–1.30pm

• 160 Reardons Lane, Swan Bay. Thurs 11–11.30am

• 73 New City Road, Mullumbimby. Fri 10–10.30am

• 14 Rush Court, Mullumbimby. Fri 11–11.30am

• 44 Argyle Street, Mullumbimby. Fri 11.30am–12pm

• 29 Palm–Lily Crescent, Bangalow. Sat 9–9.30am

• 1C Short Street, New Brighton. Sat 9–9.30am

• 2/16 Marattia Place, Suffolk Park. Sat 9–9.30am

• 32 Fairview Road, Rosebank. Sat 10–10.30am

• 3 Palm Tree Crescent, Bangalow. Sat 10–10.30am

• 93 Station Street, Mullumbimby. Sat 10–10.30am

• 3/6 Keats Street, Byron Bay. Sat 10–10.30am

• 2/122 Lighthouse Road, Byron Bay. Sat 10–10.30am

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

• 21 Excelsior Circuit, Brunswick Heads. Sat 10–10.30am

• 2/76 Teak Circuit, Suffolk Park. Sat 11–11.30am

• 496 Myocum Road, Myocum. Sat 11–11.30am

• 2/19 Marvell Street, Byron Bay. Sat 11–11.30am

• 234a Bangalow Road, Byron Bay. Sat 11–11.30am

• 2/59 Brandon Street, Byron Bay. Sat 11–11.30am

• 465 Uralba Road, Lynwood. Sat 11.30am–12pm

• 1696 Hinterland Way, McLeods Shoot. Sat 12–12.30pm

• 147 Whian Whian Road, Whian Whian. Sat 12–12.30pm

• 87 Massinger Street, Byron Bay. Sat 12–12.30pm

• 10/47–49 Shirley Street, Byron Bay. Sat 12.30–1pm

Boutique, family-owned and proudly serving Byron Bay & beyond. Where personalised service isn’t just a promise - it’s our way of

JANIS PERKINS 02 6680 8588 | 0438 841 122 janis@reodbyron.com.au Shop 9/15-19 Fletcher St, Byron Bay www.reodbyron.com.au

• 101 James Street, Dunoon. Sat 1–1.30pm

• 12 Burns Street, Byron Bay. Sat 1–1.30pm

MANA Real Estate

• 26 Redgate Road, South Golden Beach. Thurs 3.30–4pm

• 26 Redgate Road, South Golden Beach. Sat 9–9.30am

• 15 Muli Muli Avenue, Ocean Shores. Sat 9–9.30am

• 119 Commercial Road, Murwillumbah. Sat 9.30–10am

• 22 Berrimbilah Court, Ocean Shores. Sat 10–10.30am

• 132 Middle Pocket Road, Middle Pocket. Sat 10–10.30am

• 75 New Brighton Road, New Brighton. Sat 11–11.30am

• 29 Forest Way, Stokers Siding. Sat 11am–12pm

• 10 Canowindra Court, South Golden Beach. Sat 12–12.30pm

• 6 North Head Road, New Brighton. Sat 1–1.30pm

Tim Miller Real Estate

• 737 Fernleigh Road, Brooklet. Sat 9.45–10.15am

• 70 Possum Creek Road, Bangalow. Sat 10.45–11.15am

• 15 Ryces Drive, Clunes. Sat 11.45am–12.15pm

• 60 Federation Drive, Eltham. Sat 12.45–1.15pm

• 456 Eltham Road, Eltham. Sat 1.45–2.15pm

Real Estate of Distinction

• 11 Bian Court, Ocean Shores. Sat 10–10.30am

• 126 Harwood Road, Burringbar. Sat 11–11.30am

• 102 Harwood Road, Burringbar. Sat 12–12.30pm

Ruth Russell Realty

• 73 New City Road, Mullumbimby. Fri 10–10.30am

• 73 New City Road, Mullumbimby. Sat 11–11.45am

DJ Stringer Property

• 1/20 Rutledge St, Coolangatta. Sat 9–9.30am

• 2/13 Panorama Dr, Currumbin. Sat 10–10.30am

• 1086/18–20 Stuart St, Tweed Heads. Sat 10–10.30am

• 2085/18–20 Stuart St, Tweed Heads. Sat 10.30–11am

• 304/141 Musgrave St, Coolangatta. Sat 11–11.30am

• 2104/18–20 Stuart St, Tweed Heads. Sat 11–11.30am

• 10 Mourne Tce, Banora Point. Sat 12–12.30pm

• 2/15 Boyd St, Tweed Heads. Sat 12–12.30pm

Dodds Real Estate

• 108 Main Arm Road, Mullumbimby. Sat 11–11.30am

• 170 Dixons Road, Burringbar. Sat 1–1.30pm

NEW LISTINGS:

First National Byron Bay

• 36 Keys Road, Coorabell

• 3/37 Lawson Street, Byron Bay

MANA Real Estate

• 10 Canowindra Court, South Golden Beach

• 22 Berrimbillah Court, Ocean Shores

• 75 New Brighton Road, New Brighton

• 29 Forest Way, Stokers Siding

Property Business Directory

Backlash

A decision handed down by the NSW Supreme Court of Appeal has confirmed that under the NSW planning system the NSW government must consider the local impacts of climate change of coal that is burnt (regardless of where it’s burnt), as a result of the approval of coal mines in NSW. This recognises the causal link between the impacts of climate change and fossil fuel production.

The Byron Bay Historical Society (BBHS) are looking for a tech-savvy volunteer and other volunteers keen on historical research, developing content, and preserving BBHS’s digital archive. BBHS would love to hear from any digital magic-wielders and other volunteers, call BBHS president Donald Maughan on 0417 406 978.

CCTV camera and locators

High pressure jet rodder

Electric eel

1.7t excavator and 3m tipper truck

Septic systems

Sewer treatment systems

Reliable local family-run business

12 month guarantee on most jobs

Family owned and operated local business with 30

If you know Wal Foster’s Bush Ice-Cream, you know how amazing it is. Wal churns out his delicacies at Brunswick Heads, Daily Counter cafe each Friday and Saturday. Crafted using local, indigenous, fresh and/or organic ingredients, Wal has created the kind of flavour bombs that have blasted his ice cream into the pages of the Good Food Guide.

‘A surprising discovery from Emory University shows that psilocin, the active metabolite of psychedelic mushrooms, can delay cellular ageing and extend lifespan. Human cells lived over 50 per cent longer, and mice treated with psilocybin not only lived 30 per cent longer but also looked and aged better,’ according to www.sciencedaily.com.

Dark kitchens are under the spotlight. Byron Shire Council (BSC) have reminded food businesses that anyone selling food needs to notify authorities about their business. ‘No matter how big or small your business, whether it’s home-based, online only or even temporary, if you’re selling food to customers, you need to make sure your business is legal and not putting people’s health and lives at risk,’ said BSC’s Sarah Nagel. Penalties for illegally operating a food business are up to $275,000.

The Amazon rainforest produces over 20 per cent of the world’s oxygen supply.

Byron Community Market will return on Sunday, 3 August at the Main Beach foreshore from 8am to 2pm.

Old Billi Butcher Shop 7 Wilfred Street Billinudgel