Skip to main content

The Byron Shire Echo Issue 40.10 – August 13, 2025

Page 1

I MAY BE LEFT BUT I’M ALWAYS RIGHT The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 40 #10 • August 13, 2025 • www.echo.net.au

Byron Writers Festival cancelled but not defeated

I

n a devastating blow, the 2025 Byron Writers Festival (BWF) was cancelled last weekend after a successful, though wet, Friday session. Organisers cancelled events at the main festival site owing to the weather conditions, parking conditions, and the predicted ongoing rain. ‘Though we had a wonderful but wet first day, the safety of our community was our highest priority. The forecast conditions made it impossible to continue the event safely,’ Festival Artistic Director, Jessica Alice, told The Echo. Festival organisers were nonetheless able to run all satellite events, including the Poets Out Loud Youth Slam, Guardian Australia’s ‘Are you Game Show’ and Beyond the Lines, and limited Sunday sessions.

Entertainment precinct debate rumbles on ▶ p7

Australian icons, Tom Keneally and Barry Jones were highlights of Sunday’s truncated Byron Writers Festival last weekend with Tom saying, ‘Thank God the committee had the guts to cancel the festival,’ at his Sunday session in the Bangalow A&I Hall. Photos Jeff Dawson

Refunds available Byron Writers Festival is offering full refunds for Saturday and Sunday ticket holders, and a twothirds refund for three-day pass holders. ‘Unfortunately, the festival’s insurance did not cover this specific scenario,’ said a festival spokesperson. ‘Insurance access and affordability is a major issue in the Northern Rivers and for outdoor festivals and small arts organisations, which has only increased in recent years since the Northern Rivers floods and Cyclone Alfred. If Australia wants to continue to have a vibrant cultural sector, we urgently need a festival insurance scheme that guarantees against loss for extreme weather events in a rapidly changing climate. ‘The festival is hopeful about

Politicians ignore public opinion at their peril ▶ p8

its future but will require support. Byron Writers Festival has always made it our mission to support our community. We hope you, our community, will now support us

by choosing to donate your ticket costs or seek a partial refund.’ If you choose to donate your ticket back to the BWF that portion of the ticket price can also be a

tax-deductible donation. If they haven’t heard from ticket holders in the 28-day period, they will assume you are donating your refund and don’t require a receipt.

Celebrating the amazing people of Byron Shire Aslan Shand The amazing contributions of members of the Byron Shire community were celebrated last Tuesday night with Byron Bird Buddies (BBB) founder Jan Olley becoming the 2025 Byron Shire Community Member of the Year. ‘Jan Olley’s contribution to the protection, awareness and preservation of birds in the Byron Shire is truly exceptional,’ Byron Shire Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye, said on the night.

Glossy black cockatoos on the wing ▶ p13

‘Jan is a fierce advocate for the birds and so very respected, in the community, at Council, and by many other agencies such as the NPWS and BirdLife Australia. Jan’s contribution to the protection, awareness and preservation of birds in the Byron Shire is truly exceptional.’ And unbeknown to us, The Echo had a small role to play in Jan’s work. ‘I’d just moved to the Byron area in 2003 when I saw a small notice

Beauty, style, and grooming – no filter, all fabulous ▶ p16

in The Echo inviting locals to attend a workshop to help erect a protective fence for nesting little terns at Belongil Estuary. I didn’t know all the bird species yet and was keen to learn more and get involved. The idea of contributing to something meaningful, right at the edge of the estuary, really appealed to me,’ she told The Echo. Byron Bird Buddies (BBB) is a volunteer group active since 2004, focused on bird monitoring, ▶ Continued on page 7

The Scoop: local biz worth supporting ▶ p22

Mandy cancels climate change ▶ p24

Registered Re R Regi Reg egi eg eg giisster stte ste te ter erred ed Electrical Ellect le lec ect ec e cttrica c trica rric iic ica ca cal Contractor Co n Co ntr nt ntra ttrra tra racto ctto ctor c to tor orr 198555C 119 198 98 9 85 8555C 555 555C 55C 55 55C 5C (NSW) (N ((NS NS N SW W)) 69172 691 6917 69 6 91172 (Qld) 917 9 (Qld) (Q ld) ld d) CEC CEC CE EC Accredited Ac A Acc Accr cc ccr c c crred edi e edit diitte dit ed d Installers IInsta nsta n ns nst ssta sttta allller aller lle lle ler er ers

£ŅĽōýĺ ƁŬ żō ǎNjȶ nĝĝ ƫħżĤ żĤĈ fĈƫ ůōƁăĽƱ ŬōƫĈůħŅĞ fħńüħŅ ƫħżĤ ōĽáů żĈýĤŅōĽōĞƱ @ĈăĈůἠ῿ĈůƱ ĈüáżĈǧ ŵħŅýĈ njǔǓǒǧ

a© # Ù ¾ $Ëô ÙÅÄ ÅäDŽÝ © Ö Ù )ËÄ ää Ù¬ Ý SÙË¤Ù Ä ¬Ý © Ù ƣ 9ÅË » ä©ËéÝ Å Ý Ë££ ûËéÙ ää Ùû ¬ÅÝä ¾¾ õ¬ä© Å éäËÄ ä¬ Ƥ éÖ£ÙËÅä Ù ä ƣ Contact us to find out how we can help you POWER ON through blackouts.

Scan QR code for more details and a custom quote.

(02) 6689 1430

rpc.com.au

(02) 6689 1430

rpc.com.au


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
The Byron Shire Echo Issue 40.10 – August 13, 2025 by Echo Publications - Issuu