The Byron Shire Echo Issue 40.19 - October 15, 2025

19th Byron Bay Film Festival opens on Friday

March in Byron for Palestine

Aslan Shand

Saturday afternoon saw hundreds of people gather at Byron Bay’s Railway Park to join the nationwide march for peace in Palestine, and ‘mark two years of the resulting war in Gaza and the resulting genocide, and demand that the Australian government impose comprehensive sanctions on Israel,’ Subhi Awad told the gathered crowd.

‘We are here for all people from Bundjalung to Bethlehem, we are united. We shouldn’t have to be here. We are here because our government sold weapons to an active genocide. We will not take a step backwards until everybody is free.’

Local Byron Shire councillor, Byron Bay High School teacher, and Bundjalung woman Michelle Lowe, spoke to the rally saying, ‘Don’t let anyone forget about the children.’

The march followed Jonson Street to Apex Park where local organisers, activists, and community members, including Ella Noah Bancroft, Mr Awad, and Jacob Miller spoke. Local musicians, including Tashmeen, Juman, Laisa Loved and The Seedling performed.

Hundreds of people gathered in Mullumbimby last Thursday (9 October), parading up the main street playing music and calling to ‘Keep Mullum Open’. They arrived with great fanfare at the Byron Shire Council (BSC) chambers to let councillors know they wanted more effective management of the outbound traffic from Mullumbimby north to Brunswick Heads and the M1 (especially Council’s

planned diversion of outbound Mullumbimby Road traffic for four months north along the dangerous Coolamon Scenic Drive), and south along Myocum Road, which also has safety and economic impacts.

A last-ditch meeting between councillors, staff, the Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce and Community, and other community members the day before the gathering had drawn some concessions from Council on managing the roadworks.

Council’s concessions included: extending working hours from 7am to 3pm five days a week to 7am to 6pm, six days a week; turning The Saddle Road into a one-way traffic road from Mullumbimby to Gulgan Road near the Brunswick Heads roundabout to take light vehicles at 40kph with traffic calming; and a request to Mullumbimby High School to consider ‘additional traffic control measures’.

Mullumbimby Chamber President Paul Prior, said on behalf of

the chamber that he was grateful for the concessions from Council, reminding everyone that ‘Mullum is open for business’ with Mullumbimby Road having a direct flow of traffic at least into the town from Brunswick Heads and the M1.

‘It’s in, easy; out, not quite so easy. But we’re asking everyone to support Mullum and all the businesses,’ Mr Prior told the crowd, who seemed underwhelmed by the message.

▶ Continued on page 6

Australians returned Byron Shire resident Surya McEwen, who along with fellow Northern Rivers residents Hamish Paterson, and documentary filmmaker Juliet Lamont had been removed from the Global Sumud Flotilla by the Israel Defence Force (IDF) as they attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, joined the afternoon rally.

Surya spoke at the Byron rally wearing a sling after, he said, being ▶ Continued on page 3

Aslan Shand

Cody Greenwood who produced the opening night film, Birthright, Jack Tupper, co-owner of Tokyo Doll, and the Byron Bay Film Festival’s Director J’aimee Skippon-Volke, at the bar of Tokyo Doll, the venue for the festival’s opening night after party. The 2025 Byron Bay International Film Festival will run from 17 to 26 October. Photo Jeff Dawson See page 9 for the opening week’s film sessions.

Join award-winning authors at Stella Day Out

Aslan Shand

‘A room of one’s own, and 500 pounds a year,’ is how Virgina Woolf expressed what a woman needs to create art – or in her case, write.

Stella awards organisers agree saying, ‘we know women need two precious resources to write: time and space’. And every year the Stella awards, via the Stella Prize give significant funds directly to writers ‘which can literally buy them time to write their next book’.

Australian author Michelle de Kretser, the 2025 Stella Prize winner who also recently won the Prime Ministers’ Literature Award, spoke to The Echo about the upcoming, free, Stella Day Out that she will be speaking at in Byron on 17 October.

‘One of the great things about the Stella Prize is that it has really transformed the way women’s writing is received in this country,’

Michelle told The Echo ‘Reviews of books by women are now at parity, whereas once upon a time there was much more space devoted to books written by men.

‘The Stella Prize was originally set up because for two years running the Miles Franklin had only men on its shortlist. The judges were sort of saying they just weren’t aware of gender, which is nonsense, it’s just treating men as the norm. From the moment the Stella Prize came into being, women started winning the Miles Franklin. It’s about 12 or 13 years that the Stella has existed and I think men have only won the Miles Franklin twice in that time.

‘It just shows what a wealth of writing talent by women there was in the country that was just not being recognised.

‘In those years when there were only men on the shortlist there were novels

by extremely good women writers, people like Helen Garner and Joan London, and they were just not being recognised.’

Stella Day Out

There will be two sessions at Byron’s Stella Day Out at the Byron Community Centre. Session 1 will be Michelle in conversation with Annie O’Rourke, as they discuss Michelle’s award-winning seventh novel, Theory & Practice and everything in between. Session 2 will be authors Fiona Wright and Josephine Rowe discussing their books and examining the female experience and fragility, moderated by Byron Bay Writers Festival Director Jessica Alice.

Free tickets

‘These events are completely free, so anyone can come along,’ said Michelle. Book a ticket at https://stella.org.au/ stella-day-out-landing.

Local teen killed in Qld highway crash

A Byron Shire teenager was killed in a multi-vehicle crash on Queensland’s Bruce Highway last Friday, police reported.

Queensland police said the youth was a 14-year-old girl from Brunswick Heads. She was declared deceased at the Apple Tree Creek crash scene in Queensland’s Bundaberg region early Friday morning.

The Queensland Police Service said their Forensic Crash Unit was investigating, but

preliminary enquiries indicated a Volvo prime mover truck travelling northbound on the highway crashed into a white Mazda CX-5 and a white Toyota Hilux, both heading south, shortly before 2.00am.

The girl had been a passenger in the Mazda, police said.

The Mazda driver, a 22-year-old woman from Sarina in Queensland’s nearby Mackay region, was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

The driver of the Toyota, a 22-year-old Sarina man, survived without physical injury, as did the driver of the prime mover, a 31-yearold man from Park Ridge, in Queensland’s Logan area.

The highway was closed in both directions at Apple Tree Creek until late Friday night, police said.

Officers were appealing for anyone with further information or relevant footage to contact them using reference number QP2501825430.

New clock for Byron Bay

Paul Bibby

For more than 30 years the Rotary Club clock has stood on the corner of Byron and Jonson streets in the heart of Byron Bay – a rare constant in a time of nearly constant change.

But now it seems this unassuming icon is also going to have to make way.

Byron Council says the multi-million-dollar drainage upgrade taking place in the town centre is going to require the demolition of the old clock, and that it’s time for a new timepiece to take its place.

While Council’s recent record of building public monuments has been somewhat chequered, we’ve been reliably informed that we’re not about to get another ‘Disco Dong’.

The new clock will apparently be located just a few metres from the current tower and will be of a similar design.

‘We recognise that it’s a significant monument for the community and Rotary and for the family of Ben King

version will use materials that are both sustainable, more robust, and more graffiti-proof.

Unlike the concrete rendering of the current model, the new clock will be decked out in either tiles or glazed brick.

The colours are still to be decided upon, with discussions taking place between Council and Rotary.

While it seems the new clock will not be a radical departure from the old model, it will nevertheless be the end of an era.

who built it,’ Council’s Place Manager, Claire McGarry said.

‘So we’re recognising that significance as we go through the process.’

The size and shape of the new clock will essentially replicate the current structure, and will utilise the same timing mechanism.

However, the new

The clock was established through the efforts of the local Rotary Club in the early 1990s, when the idea was conceived by Rotarian Reg Miller because people frequently asked him for the time in his real estate office nearby.

After getting approval from Council, the Rotary Club donated the clock and Council provided the location on the nature strip at the intersection of Jonson and Byron streets, which was prepared by a landscape architect.

Celebrate the life of Kim Rosen

The Brunswick Heads community are coming together to celebrate the life of Kim Rosen on Saturday, 25 October at Banner Park, Brunswick Heads, from 12 to 2pm.

Kim was a dynamic force in Brunswick Heads over the last 25 years and was part of a range of initiatives for the town from the Simple Pleasures campaign to the Brunswick Visitor Information Centre, Old and Gold, Mullum2Bruns Paddle, and Kites and Bikes.

Kim passed away on Saturday, 6 September after a valiant battle against cancer.

Come and help celebrate Kim’s life with family and friends with kite-making, speeches and live classical music – and of course the dress code is colourful.

RSVP chamber@brunswickheads.org. au to let organisers know you are coming. Kim Rosen.

Photo Jeff Dawson

The current clock tower will be replaced by a similar clock following the drainage works. Photo Aslan Shand

Local News

Marching in Byron for peace in Palestine

▶ Continued from page 1

assaulted in an Israeli jail and having his arm dislocated. He urged the crowd to take action for Gaza, calling for the immediate implementation of sanctions on Israel.

Speaking to The Echo Surya said being part of the flotilla ‘wasn’t as dangerous as it could have been.’

‘Originally, they [the IDF] were calling us the Hamas boats and the terrorist boats. It looked like they were setting things up to maybe bomb us, like attack us in a really serious way. So it was full-on in some ways, but it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

‘In terms of the treatment in prison, we experienced some violence, some sexual violence, some harassment and humiliation, but it’s about what we would expect. It’s in line with what’s happened for other missions, and it’s also so minor in comparison to the experience of Palestinians in the same prison,’ he said.

Highlighting genocide

Surya pointed out that the flotilla had 30,000 people apply to join the boats.

‘So it feels like even before we began that it was a huge success, that the movement’s become so internationalist, and so many people are willing to put themselves on the line, put their bodies on boats and sail into the genocide.’

‘We want to bring solidarity and hope, and we also want to bring aid, break the siege and open our humanitarian corridor,’ he explained.

‘But it’s also like a political act,’ he said, highlighting the uprisings in Italy, Greece, France, Spain, and in Turkey

that have driven governments to take action including Italy and Greece who sent navy vessels to accompany the flotilla for parts of the journey.

‘There’s all sorts of things that people can do. I think it’s a matter of just leaning into our edge in relation to involvement in this sort of political project. So for some people that might mean having conversations with family, understanding the history of the colonisation of Palestine, getting involved in the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS)

is a powerful way to force change on the ground there, and also petition. Petitioning like organisations and institutions that we’re a part of ourselves, and the governments, and the places that we live are really important as well, and wherever people are, there are movements for peace and justice in Palestine that they can join on the ground and connect with as well.’

Speaking to the crowd local activist Valerie reminded those present, ‘as Bob Brown says, don’t get depressed, get active’.

March against violence to reclaim the night

Creating streets that are safe for women creates streets that are safe for everyone.

The Reclaim the Night March is taking place on Wednesday, 22 October from 6pm to 8pm at the Quad, Lismore. The march stands against gender-based violence and advocates for safer communities for women and gender-diverse people.

‘This event is about visibility, solidarity, and action,’ said Emma Siegel, General

Manager of Women’s Health Northern Rivers, one of the event co-ordinators.

‘We want everyone to feel safe walking our streets at night, and we’re here to say that violence has no place in our communities.’

The march will bring together survivors, allies, activists, and community members in a united call to end sexual violence and reclaim public spaces.

Reclaim the Night is part

of a global movement that began in the 1970s, empowering individuals to speak out against violence and demand change.

The Northern Rivers event will feature: Mandy Nolan as MC, speeches from local

advocates and survivors, performances by Nini Nari Gahli and International Songs of Justice group, and more.

For more information see https://whnr.org.au/event/ reclaim-the-night.

Surya McEwen at the Byron Bay rally on 11 October, 2025. Photo Gwilym S

The future of tourism in Byron Shire

Aslan Shand

As the summer heads our way it is a salient reminder of how busy things can get in Byron Shire with around two million tourists visiting a year. With a ratepayer base of around 37,000 meeting the needs and expectations of those two million visitors is a challenge.

The Destination Byron Symposium taking place on 23 October is looking to take on the challenge of how the Byron Shire community can establish and benefit from a regenerative model of tourism and is calling for the establishment of a Destination Management Organisation (DMO).

‘Byron Shrie is a tourist destination and has been for a long time and if we ignore that fact then we’re at risk of a whole range of different problems,’ said Jeanie Wylie, Destination Byron Secretary and Frida’s Field owner.

Ms Wylie said that we need to look at establishing a DMO and Byron Shire Council (BSC) needs to complete its destination management plan (DMP).

‘All other local government areas (LGAs) on the

north coast and beyond, all have DMPs,’ she told The Echo

Shaping out future

‘Destination Byron is encouraged by the new Council’s more positive attitude towards the potential benefits of tourism, although some frustrations are bubbling at the pace of change.’ Council have said they are working on the DMP but Destination Byron say they have yet to hear much about its progress from BSC.

‘The symposium is a great opportunity to look at how tourism can be a positive thing for the region, if it’s well managed,’ Ms Wylie explained.

‘When people are deciding “do I want to go to Byron, or do I want to go to the Gold Coast?”, if there’s an active message out there about, what you can experience in Byron Shire, for example bush walking, going to the farmers’ market, seeing an amazing show at the Brunswick Picture House, doing yoga, art, ceramics, or having a massage, then you are actively painting a picture of what tourists can be doing when they’re here.

That then attracts the type of visitor that we want to see supported, and that supports our community.

‘The symposium that we’re holding next week is the start of us trying to have some wider community engagement. A key part of that is trying to gauge if there is an appetite to support and fund the creation of a DMO, and what that could look like,’ she said.

Support needed

‘There are a lot of different models out there, whether it’s a levy, a bed tax, a voluntary levy, a compulsory levy, or sponsorship programs. It’s very challenging, Byron Shire needs more support from external sources including state and federal government. We’re in such a unique position with such a small population of ratepayers versus this high number of visitors, that is more than double all of the other LGAs in the north coast.’

If you are interested in getting involved, then pick up a ticket to the Destination Byron Symposium at www. destinationbyron.com.au/ symposium.

Wallum Extravaganza raises $4,000

Mwanna and Cully Rose were part of last Friday’s Wallum Extravaganza at

Civic Hall that raised just over $4,000 to support Save Wallum’s ongoing legal costs. ‘Weeks of preparation came to life through stunning lino-printed clothing, bold headpieces, and incredible performances by first-time dancers and models from our diverse local community,’ said organisers. ‘And a massive shoutout to Yulli’s Byron Bay for the delicious food and drinks that kept us nourished. This was more than a fundraiser – it was a vibrant reminder of what we can achieve together.’ Photo Jeff Dawson

Enjoy Byron’s own Matsuri Japan Festival

Byron’s free annual Matsuri Japan Festival is taking place on Saturday, 18 October at Main Beach, Byron Bay from 2pm to 8pm.

It’s a bring-a-picnic free family afternoon rolling into a magical lantern-lit evening with live Japanese music, and taiko drumming, alongside traditional dance, craft workshops, and Japanese kids’ games.

There will be YATAI-style Asian street food, Yulli’s Brews Beer Garden and the chance to savour fine sake at Heven Sake Bar, while you relax on

the Byron Surf Club deck. Take the chance to connect with community, explore the vibrant kimono and craft markets, and experience the joyful fusion of food, music, and community at this family-friendly experience right by the sea.

Karyn,

Mullum

Calling all butchers

Heading to the butcher is a regular event for many, and it is the butcher we rely on to give us just the right piece of meat to create the centrepiece of a delicious meal for family and friends.

Two of Mullumbimby’s butcher shops have proudly been in their current locations, serving the community for just over 100 years. The Brunswick Valley Historical Society’s Mullumbimby Museum are putting together an exhibition about butchering in Mullumbimby, Billinudgel, Brunswick Heads, and Ocean Shores over the last 100 years, including the meat pools that were at Main Arm, Wilsons Creek, and Tyagarah-Myocum.

‘We would like to invite anyone who has been involved in the butchering trade in these areas to the opening of the exhibition on Friday, 24 October from 5.30pm onwards at 17 Myokum Street, Mullumbimby,’ said Mullum Museum member Susan Tsicalas.

Of course everyone is looking forward to the best bar and barbecue in town that night. For more info see mullumbimbymuseum.org.au.

Time for a little ‘Spaghetti Western’

From 29 October you will have the chance to see a breathtaking new show, circus spectacular Spaghetti Western, for its world premiere season.

Spaghetti Circus and Brunswick Picture House are co-producing the new show, which is being directed by Australia’s award-winning, all-female, internationally acclaimed circus sensation YUCK Circus.

From the dusty saloons to the open plains, it’s a wild ride for all ages with plenty

of flipping and flying in a land where you can revel in heroes.

This rollicking new work will have you giddy and laughing along with Spaghetti’s talented Performance Troupe.

‘It’s such an honour to direct the Spaghetti Performance Troupe; an incredible bunch of kind, talented, passionate teens,’ said Georgia Deguara from YUCK Circus’.

‘With Spaghetti graduate Hannah Richards in our

YUCK cast, it’s a privilege to be able to inspire the next generation of artists.’

Blending world-class acrobatics, fearless stunts, prancing ponies and plenty of cowboy swagger, Spaghetti Western promises to deliver a high-energy reimagining of the classic Western with a distinctly Northern Rivers twist.

With three shows already sold out, hurry up and get your tickets at www. brunswickpicturehouse. com.

Shona Conacher from YUCK Circus, Avalon, Luca and Amelie of Spaghetti Circus, and also from YUCK, Hannah Richards. Rest of shows to promote. Photo Jeff Dawson

Mullum Rd closure frustrates community

▶ Continued from page 1

The Saddle Road back on the table

However, The Saddle Road Local Area Management Planning Association (SRLAMPA) told The Echo that, ‘Many months ago, and for good reasons, Council made the sensible decision to scrap The Saddle Road as a detour during Stage 2 of their Mullumbimby roadworks’.

‘Reversing this decision is a knee-jerk reaction to the community’s expression of frustration about the serious financial, social and mental impact these poorly-planned roadworks will have on a sizeable proportion of the shire’s residents. That Council could not see this coming is staggering,’ they said.

‘Sending thousands of vehicles down a winding, decades-long-neglected laneway will potentially endanger the lives of people and wildlife, cause environmental degradation and do little to alleviate the impending chaos. The mishandling of roadworks on Mullumbimby Road is a case study of Council incompetence. Sensible requests by multiple community groups to replan using a sub-road, stop and go traffic, and night works have all been ignored.’

Postpone the works

Former Mullumbimby Music Festival Director and local business owner, Glenn Wright, who led the musical street parade, also spoke to the gathered crowd of around 300 on the day. He stressed that everyone wanted the road improvements to go ahead and take place at some time, but the ‘process’ was inadequate. He said that the ‘meeting on Wednesday with the Council, GM, and Chamber of Commerce was helpful, but did not go far enough’.

‘It felt like it was the first real community consultation that I’d experienced in relation to the matter in three months of trying,’ he told The Echo

‘There were a number of outcomes that will help mitigate some of the challenges that the community will face in relation to this. That being said, the works should be postponed, the grant timeline extended, and the process of community consultation, community safety, and the financial burden of decisions made

should not weigh so heavily on the businesses in the town of Mullum.’

Mayor Ndiaye sought to address the crowd prior to the BSC meeting, restating that the roadworks would stop flooding, before going on to say that she hoped those in the crowd would put up their hands to be councillors, and that Glenn Wright should restart his Mullumbimby Music Festival, before the crowd became restive and she relinquished the microphone.

In open access at the Byron Shire Council (BSC) meeting, following the gathering, local business owner Sharon McGrath asked, ‘Has Council sought a variation from the relevant grant authorities to allow for modification of the construction plan which would provide for two-way traffic, thereby minimising disruption, economic impacts and public safety?’

‘A Council staff member replied, “No” however, the Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye, then said the question would be taken on notice,’ explained Ms McGrath.

Consultation

While putting the motion for extended working hours, etc, Mayor Ndiaye listed the Council’s process of community engagement including press releases, social media posts, and other consultations. However, Ms McGrath and Mr Wright said they had struggled to get responses from Council when they had tried, over many months, to engage with them on the issues of safety and the impact on local businesses.

‘The mayor has said they will extend the hours of work and also has committed to other measures to help over the period, after the last two days of discussions. But the consultation process is happening now, long after the decision was made. My work colleague made four calls, once a week, to Council’s dedicated works line, to field questions on the works. No response. I then emailed and waited ten days for a response. I then started to make noise and got an email, and later a call. That’s six weeks for a response,’ said Mr Wright.

‘By 25 June it had been decided by Council and it was presented as “this is what is going to happen”. The Saddle Road was walked away from in mid-May, so the Council consultation that

the mayor talks about must have taken place in May or early June, but no one I have talked to was consulted at that time.’

Ms McGrath agrees, saying she has been engaging with Council since June and advocating for greater transparency.

Speaking to The Echo she said she was cautious about the proposed Mayoral Minute. While she welcomed Council’s move toward consultation, she said the concessions offered would do little to address the serious economic and safety impacts of the detour routes – and would again place the burden on The Saddle Road.

Something is broken

During Council debate on the new measures, Councillor Asren Pugh told the chamber, ‘somewhere in the process, something was broken and didn’t work, and we’ve caused confusion for the staff who are supposed to be implementing, we’ve potentially caused delays.

‘I think that we need to reflect on this. We can’t just blame people getting riled up about it… we need to reflect on it and take some responsibility for the potential delays and certainly some of the confusion around what’s going on.’

Safety issues

Of particular concern are the continuing safety issues of the alternative routes with Mr Wright telling The Echo, ‘If you look at the national road and traffic accidents and injuries, the deaths and fatalities – road safety is at the top of the list, not flooding… although the works are worthwhile, they are not worth the cost of risk of loss of life putting three to four times the safe traffic capacity of Coolamon Scenic Drive for four months, not worth the loss of business and financial burden on the business owners in Mullumbimby in the lead up to Christmas, not worth the anxiety for the residents of The Saddle Road or Tyagarah Road due to the increased traffic on their roads, not worth the extended traffic jam outside Mullum High School each day between 2.30pm and 3.15pm, and not worth the stress on the Mullumbimby High School HSC students that will struggle during their HSC exams if a solution there is not found,’ he said.

Further negotiations over Bangalow Hotel redevelopment

Paul Bibby

Bangalow residents opposed to plans for a dramatic makeover of their local pub have secured a small victory, with Byron Council deferring its decision on the matter so that further negotiations over the proposed design can take place.

The owners of the Bangalow Hotel raised the ire of many heritage-conscious locals when they submitted plans for a $13 million redevelopment that would significantly change the look and feel of the venue and increase the space for poker machines.

The development application (DA) proposed a significant demolition and redevelopment of the internal ground floor area of the hotel, including removal of the old timber bar, several walls, bathrooms and part of the floor section.

An area in the western part of the venue, which not so long ago hosted live music and other community-focused events, was to become a separated gaming room with 20 poker machines.

The rear decks and stairs additions were proposed to be removed and replaced with a new deck.

Council staff had recommended that the revised DA be approved, stating that it was ‘satisfactory having regard to the relevant environmental planning instruments and planning controls applicable to the site’.

But there were many within the Bangalow community who did not agree.

In a stinging set of submissions, dozens of residents expressed concern about a loss of heritage values, the increased size of the venue, and the construction of the pokie room.

Last week councillors voted unanimously to defer

their decision on the matter so that discussions could take place about the plan to turn the live music space into a pokie room.

The applicant has been asked to provide amended plans or a response to this motion within 14 days.

Loss of live music

‘I understand that the current owners have said that they tried live music and they now want to replace it with a giant pokie room,’ said Labor councillor Asren Pugh, who moved the motion to defer.

‘In all honesty I think they’re not trying hard enough. I understand that it’s more difficult to have live music. But while we the

Council are going through quite a robust community engagement process in Byron to try and support live music and creative people and industries, to just see one of the best live music spaces removed on a whim would be really disappointing.

‘While I understand the current owners may have found it [the live music space] problematic… it doesn’t mean that another owner in the future might be able to take a more creative approach and make that space really successful.

‘I think it’s a detrimental move for Bangalow and a detrimental move for our creative industries, and I think we should be doing everything we can to maintain the option for live music and creating balance.

‘I think we should leave the space there so that when a more creative owner comes along they can utilise the space to support our local musicians.’

The other changes to the venue proposed by the owners will not be opposed by Council.

Gyuto Monks of Tibet at the Crystal Castle

Gyuto Monks: Sonam Gyatso, Wangdor Lama, Tenzin Jigmi, and Dhakpa Tenzin are part of a month-long residency at Crystal Castle running from Wednesday, 8 October to Tuesday, 4 November, where visitors can enjoy daily meditation, chanting sessions, sand mandala creation, children’s cultural activities, and more. Photo Jeff Dawson

RiverFest’s third week of fun

Week 3 of RiverFest sees activities taking place in Ballina, Lismore, and The Channon with a great variety of things to get involved in.

If it is the science you are into then join the Science in the Club: Nature-Based Solutions for Flood Resilience at the Lismore Heights Bowlo on Thursday, 16 October. Saturday, 18 October will see multiple events, including plantings at the Duck Pond in

Lismore and on the banks of Terania Creek, while others can get involved in exploring the Wiangaree wetland and learning about its ecology and restoration. For those that would like a paddle on the Richmond River, head to Ballina on Sunday, 19 October where the more adventurous can give outrigging a try. Find out more at https:// richmondriverfest.com.

Artist’s impression of proposed redeveloped Bangalow Hotel. Image Byron Shire Council

North Coast News

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

Binned batteries blamed for multiple truck fires

Incorrectly disposed-of batteries were likely to blame for three garbage truck loads catching fire in the Tweed Shire in the past six weeks, council staff said last week.

Staff said drivers had been obliged to dump the ‘hot loads’ out of their trucks to prevent more serious fires.

Concerns over formalising 4WD access to Airforce Beach, Evans Head

A decision by Richmond Valley Council to formalise the Airforce Beach access point (north of Evans Head) with asphalt parking and fourwheel drive access has raised concerns with the Evans Head Residents for Sustainable Development group. Calls for Richmond River Commissioner

A town hall meeting at the Lismore Regional Gallery on Saturday has called for NSW Labor government action on river health in the Richmond River catchment.

The meeting was held during Riverfest 2025, which was a series of events and activities held along the river last week.

Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary now has big cockatoo

A new installation at the The Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in Knockrow is the latest in Australia’s enduring love for oversized icons. An eight-metre sulphur-crested cockatoo sculpture has a new perch along the stunning vista overlooking Lennox and Broken Head.

Long weekend

police blitz leads to 11,389 fines

NSW Police said they issued 11,389 Traffic Infringement Notices across the state over the Labor Day long weekend (October 4–6). More than 4,000 were for speed-related offences, around a quarter of them, 1,149, in the Northern Region.

Tugun Bypass Tunnel closures this month

Motorists are advised the Tugun Bypass Tunnel on the Pacific Motorway will be temporarily closed on multiple nights during October for essential maintenance.

Casino suspension bridge works begin

Construction has commenced on an suspension bridge across the Richmond River at Casino.

In a media release by the NSW Labor government, they say, ‘The landmark suspension bridge, jointly funded by the Albanese and Minns governments, will form the centrepiece of a proposed new riverside precinct, connecting the Casino CBD with Queen Elizabeth Park’s sporting facilities, river walks and open spaces’.

‘The precinct forms part of the Casino CBD Activation Project, which will provide a more vibrant central business district, with increased retail, residential and

community space.

‘The existing Casino Footbridge sustained repeated damage during recent flood events, prompting the need for a more resilient structure in a new location.

‘The structure will be built above flood levels and designed to withstand strong river flows, ensuring improved reliability and safety during major weather events.

‘The project received $3,505,767 from the Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package under the 2022 Community Assets Program. Completion of the bridge is anticipated by the end of June 2026, weather permitting’.

Lennox fun run for a serious cause

Around 300 people took part in last weekend’s LennOX Run. The fun run for Frankie raised funds to help research into DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma), an aggressive brain tumour mainly affecting children. The annual run honoured Frankie, who inspires hundreds to run 2.5km on the hour, every hour, for 24 hours. Frankie lived every moment of her short life to the fullest – she passed away at nine years of age in 2022.

NSW Rural Women’s Gathering, October 25

Lismore will host the 32nd NSW Rural Women’s Gathering on Saturday, 25 October at the The Quad (110 Magellan Street), and organisers welcome women in the Lismore, Ballina and Byron areas to attend.

Their media release reads, ‘Organised by Lismore Council, with a $40,000 investment from the NSW government, the theme for this year’s NSW Rural

Women’s Gathering is ‘Connect to the Heart’.

‘Highlights include keynote speaker, Shanna Whan AM, founder of Sober in the Country; guest speaker Dr Hannah Tonkin, Women’s Safety Commissioner; guest speaker Madeleine West, Partner at Safe on Socials; and master of ceremonies, Mel Bampton, former Triple J host and cofounder of The Prana Project’.

They say, ‘there will be

more than a dozen workshops, including a cacao ceremony and mindfulness; AI; vocal singing; sustainability; traditional weaving and beading with Indigenous artists; and more’.

‘Participants will leave with new skills, fresh perspectives and memories that last well beyond the day.

‘There will be a specially curated roaming lunch, exploring the flavours of Lismore.

Tributes to Phil Youngblutt

The life of prominent Tweed business identity and former councillor, Phil Youngblutt, was recognised by Tweed Council at their October 2 meeting.

In a late mayoral minute, Cr Chris Cherry said, ‘Councillors, I would like us to take some time today to reflect on the recent death of former long-serving Councillor Phil Youngblutt’.

‘Mr Youngblutt was first elected to Council in the year 2000 and served for 12 years, including a stint as deputy

mayor in 2012.

‘While I didn’t have the privilege of serving on Council with Phil, there are many stories about his outspoken

ways and his passion for the revitalisation of the Tweed – something he had also worked towards during his time as president of the Murwillumbah Chamber of Commerce. He was very well-known and respected, particularly in the local business community.

‘He died at the age of 90, leaving behind his wife Maureen, his children Mark and Suellen, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. We extend our condolences to Phil’s family and friends’.

‘Enjoy set menus at some of the city’s most-loved cafes and eateries. More than a meal, it’s a chance to discover local hospitality, support small businesses and connect with fellow Gathering women over good food’.

For tickets, which includes all workshops, speakers, morning and afternoon tea and the roaming lunch experience, visit www.nsw.gov.au/rwn.

It’s Cyber Security Awareness Month

From staying in touch with loved ones to accessing personal information, many aspects of daily lives are impacted by digital technology, which makes staying safe online more important than ever.

In 2025 alone, Australians have experienced financial losses totalling more than $48 million from roughly 25,000 scams reported to ScamWatch.

This Cyber Security Awareness Month, the NSW government is reminding everyone to keep

information secure and stay safe online by following these three steps:

1. Install all software updates to keep your devices secure.

2. Use a unique and strong passphrase on every account.

3. Always set up multi-factor authentication (MFA).

If you believe your personal information has been stolen, used or accessed without knowledge or consent, contact ID Support NSW on 1800 001 040.

NSW industrial manslaughter unit launched

The NSW Labor government has announced the launch of a dedicated unit for the prosecution of industrial manslaughter.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is to receive $6.9 million over four years to 2028-29 for the new unit.

Individuals and related bodies corporate are to be included in cases for consideration.

A death a week

The Attorney General was quoted as saying one person died a week at work on average in NSW.

The government’s

announcement on Tuesday said the industrial manslaughter unit would be supported by a senior solicitor, two other solicitors and a witness assistance officer.

‘NSW now has the strongest industrial manslaughter laws in the country,’ the joint media release from Minister for Work Health and

Safety Sophie Cotsis and Attorney General Michael Daley read.

Penalties of up to 25 years jail for an individual, and fines of up to $20 million for a business would apply under laws brought in last year allowing for the possibility of their responsibility for the death of a person due

to gross negligence in the workplace. Previously, the maximum penalty for the highest form of offence under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 was ten years imprisonment for an individual or a $11.1 million penalty for a body corporate, the government said.

Photo Jeff Dawson

Guest speaker Commissioner Hannah Tonkin. Photo dcj.nsw.gov

Byron Bay International Film Festival takes place 17–26 October in Byron Bay, Ballina, Brunswick Heads, Mullumbimby, Coorabell and Lismore.

BBFF will once again showcase an extraordinary

ON HOME GROUND

Single tickets and Palace 10 packs now on sale. Start planning your opening week: Friday 17 –Tuesday 21 October. in next week’s Echo What’s On Where and pages on the

The Byron Shire Echo

Volume 40 #19 • October 15, 2025

Making the best

We all create a framework or prism in which we live our lives. That framework is made up of social expectations, family expectations, and personal expectations as well as the legal and work frameworks we are part of.

While they differ for everyone they set the parameters of our lives. There are times that we all push beyond these expectations with both positive and negative impacts for ourselves and the world around us. At other times, this framework pushes back as it shapes us, our lives, and our futures.

At all levels we create stories of our experiences and justification for our actions. For some of us that is just in relation to our own lives; for others their stories shape the world around us. For both the personal and public those stories can have advantages and drawbacks. We can see the narrative around the Israel/Palestine conflict, the impact of Trump and fake news, the way local council conducts its community consultation, and in the way a person takes their own life.

The choice to push against truth, to reframe an event, to lie outright – these things impact not just us but the lives of those around us, the lives of people, people with feelings, tears and futures. Regardless of if they are our ex, our local councillor, or an international politician, we can impact their lives if we spread mistruth, and they can impact ours if they do the same. Sometimes that can lead to the loss of one life, or perhaps thousands of innocent lives.

That is why honesty, truth, and integrity are important. That is why reassessing our own framework for our own biases is important. That is why sometimes the best decisions we will ever make will begin with the integrity to stop, rethink, reframe, and make alternative plans.

While we watch the the likes of Trump, Netanyahu, and Putin make decisions that destroy thousands upon thousands of lives, we too can be responsible for the destruction of those we once cared for, loved, or perhaps never knew – purely because we won’t look at how we are framing our story to justify our own decisions, our own desires, our own determination to get the outcome we want.

The question is always, do the means justify the end? What is the framing of our story, and our decisions, doing to ourselves and to others? If it leads to death and destruction can we truly justify it in our own hearts?

We can take a moment to question ourselves. We can all be selfrighteous bastards, but is that really the best we can do?

Aslan Shand, editor News tips are welcome: editor@echo.net.au

We look aghast at turmoil in America, UK and elsewhere and need to ask ourselves if this nightmare could come to Australia. For example, the late Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point is setting up in South Australia to target young voters.

Murdoch media trumpets that Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party has now reached 12 per cent in the polls, the same level as the Greens, while the party of septuagenarians, the Liberals, slowly crumbles apart.

One Liberal complained that, as the median age of Liberal members is 72, a meeting of party members deciding on policy would come up with solutions more suited to mid-last-century, when the White Australia policy was still in force.

While that evil policy ended when Gough Whitlam passed the Racial Discrimination Act in 1975, it didn’t end racism.

Some old timers remember and yearn for the ‘unwoke’ days when Labor’s Arthur Calwell could say in parliament, ‘Two Wongs don’t make a white’, and MPs would simply laugh. They want to curtail immigration and tacitly prefer white migrants.

Racism has raised its ugly head once more. Migrants and asylum seekers are being scapegoated by the far right and blamed for the housing crisis, as rents reach ridiculous levels and buyers in Sydney need an income of $300,000 pa to buy an average home.

The irony is Australia and America are both nations of immigrants, built on the genocide of First Nations people.

Without immigration, Australia’s population would age and decline. Populations of countries like China, Japan and South Korea are already dropping.

There’s a severe shortage of workers needed to build homes. Australia urgently needs skilled migrants for housing and other industries.

Our ageing population has created a boom in the care industry while manufacturing steadily declines. People live longer thanks to modern medicine and need to be

The Byron Shire Echo

Volume 40 #19October 15, 2025

‘Racism has raised its ugly head once more. Migrants and asylum seekers are being scapegoated

Richard Jones

cared for in their dotage, often by migrants.

The turmoil is not just about migrants. Many are feeling the pinch of rising costs, particularly home insurance that is inextricably linked to the climate catastrophe unfolding like a slow-moving bushfire.

Heatwaves, droughts, flooding, and wild weather are causing global spikes in food prices – coffee, rice, corn, cocoa, potatoes and other food items.

Insurance costs are through the roof, and many can no longer afford to insure their homes. When catastrophe strikes, they are devastated and lose everything.

There used to be a Government Insurance Office in New South Wales until it was sold by the Fahey government in 1992. Conservative governments have a nasty habit of selling off public assets and letting the private sector solve problems, which they don’t.

As the climate crisis worsens governments need to act decisively to protect citizens and their assets.

Meanwhile those corporations mining and selling products that contribute to climate catastrophe are raking in billions and paying no corporate tax. Gas giant Santos has just racked up its tenth year of paying no corporate tax on a turnover of $48 billion. They pay a miserly few million in resource rent tax but nowhere near as much as they should for the global damage for which they are responsible.

Likewise, Darwin’s Ichthys LNG paid no tax for the sixth year in a row from takings of $43 billion. Petroleum resource rent tax has fallen to a miserly $1.5 billion a year.

A ten per cent per annum turnover tax on corporations like Santos exploiting Australia’s natural resources would pay the entire

annual insurance claims of everyone affected by floods, droughts, fires and hurricanes, with money left over for climate mitigation.

These billions could flow to a newly established federal Government Insurance Office.

The New South Wales one was set up by Labor Premier Jack Lang in 1927. The Albanese Labor government should establish one nationally by 2027. That would be a winner.

The move to the right by disgruntled voters needs to be tackled with bold imaginative new policies to tackle the root cause of their very real discontent.

It’s not impossible that by the time the next election comes around, the far right could be a lot more established, assisted by misleading propaganda luring in gullible voters.

Andrew Hastie’s departure from the Liberal front bench was carefully calculated. You can guarantee he, and others on the right of the Liberals will move against Sussan Ley well before the next election and attempt to establish themselves as an effective and viable opposition.

Voters are desperate and hurting and if they believe an opposition can turn things around, they will vote in extreme governments, as happened in America and Argentina. The populist right is well-funded by billionaires and working feverishly behind the scenes to gain credibility. They won’t let up.

The Albanese government simply cannot afford to rest on its laurels and assume it will coast back in. They must listen to the concerns of voters and address them courageously and urgently.

Richard Jones is a former NSW MLC, and is now a ceramist.

Thanks Mullum biz

A big shout out to Otillies who provided a constant stream of pizzas and water to participants in the Mullum rally to keep the main road open. And, belatedly, to Mitre 10 and IGA, who kept open all through the cyclone earlier this year, when the ‘other’ supermarket closed. What a great little town Mullum is. Thank you.

Anando Hefly Mullumbimby

Underwhelmed by Council and chamber

As an attendee at the ‘Keep Mullum Open’ protest meeting, I was spectacularly underwhelmed by the attitude of the organisers of the gathering last Thursday.

The two speakers, on behalf of the chamber of commerce, were nothing more than apologists for the Council and its poor decision-making process.

They spent most of their time imploring attendees to be nice to Council staff and councillors, who they claimed have a hard job and don’t get paid very much. So why the two-page spread in The Echo, if you were going to ‘whimp out’ at the protest meeting?

But the ‘piece de resistance’ came from Mayor Sarah Ndiaye, who berated attendees for questioning the Council decision. At no time did she address the issues that will arise from the poor decision, but rather carried on about the need for the road to be upgraded as if that was the issue.

The very real possibility of businesses going bankrupt and serious car accidents occurring was not of concern, and apparently did not need to be addressed.

To top it off, she suggested that the attendees could stand for election in three years time.

Mayor, you and your fellow councillors have a real problem with your attitude towards residents expressing dissent with your decisions over: Mullumbimby Rd closure; 57 Station St Mullumbimby DA; Mullumbimby water supply; parking fees for residents; Suffolk Park traffic lights/roundabout; Byron Bay stormwater upgrade; conflicts of interest by council staff and councillors; and many more issues that seem to arise on a regular basis.

Mayor, if you are so confident that you and

your fellow councillors are doing a good job, then why not resign and bring on a by-election at which you can stand against all the complaining residents?

Brian Dunphy Billinudgel

Mullumbimby bus

With regards to the Mullumbimby Road closures, I wanted to mention that I had and experience last week where a 70-year-old lady was trying to hitchhike the Gulgan Road to meet the CountryLink bus which was now not coming into Mullum any more, owing to the hold-ups associated with the roadworks.

This poor lady had no idea that CountryLink had apparently made the decision to cancel this service and as she didn’t drive, and there was no alternative given to her, she had no choice but to try and hitchhike to meet the bus.

A very unsafe and distressing alternative for our community elders.

David Smith Mullumbimby

Mullum road closure

I resisted writing – until I read that ‘it would be much more expensive to do the roadworks any other way’ (>30 per cent).

Bunkum!

Does Council insist on ‘rational economics’ being used, exclusively?

For those who remember, it was debunked years ago – it was an economic theory used by NeoLibs (and others). It ignored factors –conveniently – that could not be easily ‘valued’.

Council was told that ‘closing the road’ is the only feasible way, apparently.

Station Street, stood up and insulted everyone in the room.

If Cr Ndiaye can spew out ‘below the belt’ comments against the entire community, then she should have the guts to read some genuine criticism.

I wasn’t even really rude, I only told her to ‘face reality and give up her silly fairy dreams’.

How about the cost to Mullumbimby?

Oh, that is very hard to quantify, so Council ignores it. Not acceptable!

This shortsighted decision could bankrupt some, and do further damage to this fragile society. It is about time that the councillors behaved competently and seriously viewed the total costs to Council and to the community.

Roger Seccombe

Retired local government engineer, Ballina

Authoritarian mayor

Top-down democracy isn’t really a democracy. It’s an authoritarian system.

Right now, this is exactly what we are all experiencing with the Byron Shire Council.

Three current issues in Mullumbimby highlight this mentality: the DA for the 57 Station Street monstrosity; the planned four-month road closure out of Mullumbimby; and the management rights for the Mullum tennis courts.

Our mayor, and the elected councillors (who are supposed to work in our interests) only attack the electorate and defer to the administration.

We have a trio (all males, who sometimes act like ‘arrogance personified’) and a mayor, who tries to match them. Plus a number of almost silent supporters of our mayor.

If one dares to criticise Mayor Sarah Ndiaye online, she immediately ‘bans’ one for doing so – as happened to me on October 5, after I commented on her Facebook post about the road closure.

It’s a particularly shady move coming from the same person who, at the first community meeting about

Social media channels for elected members are supposed to be an open communication platform between the public and those representing them. But maybe nobody told Cr Ndiaye this, and she thinks it’s correct to treat us like her high school students. If so, she’s unsuitable for her position! If she can’t stand criticism, she’s also unsuitable.

The community is definitely fed up, as can be seen by the demonstration on Thursday, and a good number of letters in The Echo. I’ve started to wonder if the public can take a ‘vote of no confidence’ in this Council. They surely deserve some kind of ‘Max Eastcott Prize’ for incompetence.

Juergen Klein Mullumbimby

Fighting to save Mullumbimby

The 57 Station St design belongs in a metropolitan city. It is inconsistent with the scale and character of buildings in town, many of which have heritage listing. It will increase pressure on parking needs, already under pressure with recent post-Covid pop influx, to breaking point.

Traffic congestion will increase around a

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notoriously difficult couple of intersections (either side of the railway) which are flow-in and exit points to town.

journeys daily x seat capacity per train journey.

for this choice.

A petition signed by more than 2,000 has been lodged with Council opposing this monstrosity. This represents the vast majority of Mullumbimby. Multiple objections have been lodged to the DA.

climate change, equally there is growing consternation at the destruction of pristine wildlife habitat, untouched bushland and prime agricultural land in the name of renewables.

Even Bob Brown, a longtime champion of the preservation of the planet, has expressed his concern that many renewables projects carry huge environmental consequences.

As a result of the hard work by these railway companies, an ‘Approval in Principle’ for the licence application has now been sent to TfNSW for this vital project, subject to final funding, for the benefit of the entire community, including Mr Christopherson himself.

This project is to help remind, empower and enhance a growing culture of peace initiatives to counter the military-industrial murdering-polluting complex.

In addition, this statue is a backdrop spelling out graphically and visually what needs to be addressed for a liveable planet.

The iconic toilet building is a symbol of the alternative nature of the town and as such deserves a preservation order. Major awards were won by local architect Christine Vadasz for our local yin yang production, echoing the philosophy of the town’s hippy culture.

The 57 Station St development sets the precedent for higher-scale development of Mullumbimby’s town centre.

Long-term environmental sustainability means considering the local impacts, not just the global benefits.

It is well documented that wind turbines can affect the migratory paths of birds, cause the deaths of endangered bat and bird species and that their installation often requires enormous swathes of land to be cleared.

There are over 95 per cent of local businesses that fully support this new rail initiative with over 85 per cent support from residents across the wider community.

We can see now in real time on our devices the devastation left behind by modern warfare. Our web of life is at a crossroads.

Hope that a group can get together in Byron to support and lobby this request.

For more info visit www. funderestudios.com.au/ benny-zable-the-protestor>. May peace prevail on Earth.

Owners of the town’s building blocks are bound to jump on the bandwagon of building up if this goes ahead.

Similarly, solar farms can alter water flow, soil health, and also affect animal migratory patterns.

The community is fighting to save the character of their small country town.

Will B Stanton Mullumbimby

As I drive around, I see the curbside yellow with Roundup-poisoned grasses.

How completely ridiculous to spend millions of dollars on poison spray!

They employ young folk to spray it, usually unprotected, which is a huge cancer risk. All they are doing is turning green grass into hay. It’s just one flick of a cigarette away from a catastrophic fire! Roundup kills insects, bees and butterflies.

The insanity of the human race is just unbelievable. In Europe, hedgerows are allowed to flourish. They understand that birds and insects need grasses and hedges.

But here, there is dead grass, yellow and poisoned, all along the motorway and country lanes. Thousands of kilometres – how many tons of liquid poison are being used? Do we ever learn? Imagine the money saved if it were spent on something better?

Okay – rant over. If you are in Council, please take note. Let common sense prevail! Thank you. RIP Jane – We are trying.

Tanya Bregnsdal  Ewingsdale

Wind farm sustainability

Mandy Nolan dismisses opponents of wind farms as having ‘a Trumpian worldview’ [Echo, October 8].

While many of us are deeply concerned about

Destructive open cut mining for precious rare minerals is yet another questionable ‘green’ practice.

It is offensive to discredit those who feel that in trying to save the planet we may be irretrievably damaging parts of it.

Louise

Andrews Lennox Head

Costed railways

In reply to Mr Christopherson’s letter in TheEcho, it’s important to advise readers that all work carried out by both Northern Regional Railway Company (NRRC) and Northern Rivers Rail Ltd (NRRL) to return rail services to the Northern Rivers is both correct and verifiable.

NRRC carried out the degradation study of the line between Lismore and Yelgun, with cost estimates from over 20 rail infrastructure management companies and suppliers, most with extensive experience in the Australian railway market. This was then quantified by a qualified quantity surveyor.

How the figure of $478 was arrived at as a fare in his letter is anyone’s guess.

While the author states he’s a former railway employee and knows prices, he doesn’t state what his actual role was.

It’s hard to quantify his expertise when he doesn’t state what experience he has in infrastructure management.

Fares have been calculated by NRRL around $8 with $12 return between Byron Bay and Mullumbimby, and similarly to Bangalow – less with concessions, and based on train

Not only will this new rail service benefit the ablebodied, but will also provide a user-friendly transport option with access for those with bikes, surfboards, mobility scooters, wheelchairs, etc, to and from Mullumbimby as the first stage.

Then Bangalow and other destinations, in a safe, secure, efficient all-weather non-road environment, and Mr Christopherson and others with disabilities or mobility issues will be most warmly welcomed aboard!

Phillip Mackenzie

Chairman Northern Rivers Rail Ltd, West Lakes

Vax sceptics

The MSM [main stream media] is banging on about three people dying when Optus breaks down.

What about the deaths from the COVID-19 ‘so called’ vaccines that were promised as being safe and effective?

What about the thousands of injured folk from the ‘so called’ vaccines? I personally know some injured folk.

No one wants to address this issue, especially the MSM, and our ‘so called’ caring politicians.

No one cares, and still they push the boosters.

Margot Hays Bangalow

Call to install a full-size bronze of ‘The Protester’

I’ve been spending most of this year working with a team of artists at the Fundere Fine Art Sculpture

Foundry in Melbourne, replicating a copy of my iconic costume worn over decades at protest actions both here and overseas.

It was conceived, protesting against mining for rutile/ mineral sands at Middle Head beach and is now worn for the genocide taking place in Gaza.

Byron Bay being one of the main places visited on the far easterly coast of Australia, with a Green council, serving a large activist body of people, is the main reason

Benny Zable  Melbourne

Australian weapons used in Gaza

For those who may be interested, it was revealed on October 8 in Senate Estimates, more revelations about the morally bankrupt Labor government.

Barbara Pocock of the Greens questioned Labor’s Don Farrell as to why the Australian Future Fund invests in Elbits Systems, one of Israel’s largest weapons manufacturers.

A company, it was revealed, which has made record profits since the war began in Gaza.

Under the UN Genocide Convention, countries are required to do everything they can to prevent a genocide from occurring.

Don Farrell’s response, in typical time-wasting and avoidance style, after numerous ‘um-ming and ah-ing’ was to state the Greens wanted the war to continue.

Barbara Pocock demanded an immediate retraction to this offensive lie. Which he was instructed to [do].

Maybe Labor needs to employ more intelligent and compassionate leaders and ministers, because they need to reflect on their continuation of the government’s contribution to a genocide.

Rod Murray Ocean Shores

The right location for

My partner and I fortunately own our house here in Mullum, and are very grateful that we were able to do so. I fully support truly ‘affordable housing’ – for everyone.

When people are unable to have a safe, stable, affordable house or place to

sleep in every night, they cannot really be fully relaxed or contribute to their town, or take part in everyday society and this can lead to mental breakdown and disengagement. I think this is an essential need for everyone.

I am disturbed by some Byron Shire councillors who have attacked Mullum Residents Association (MRA) for ‘telling lies’ and leading a campaign which they say is anti ‘affordable housing’. MRA members are not against housing, especially properly affordable housing.

Many people who are aware of the negatives of not being housed, are MRA members and homeowners, or would-be homeowners.

The 57 Station Street protest is, as has been pointed out, against the proposed site, not the idea.

The MRA in my opinion is made up of reasonable, sensible intelligent people who want the best for the town. They have put much effort into studying this site and have consulted with several people who have expertise in planning and associated skills and have concluded that this site is not suitable for the development proposed.

Their reasons given to reject it have been listed

clearly, and verified by said experts. But they have not rejected the idea. We all want people to be housed. The option of the Council carpark as a site for housing, which could fit even more housing, has been suggested.

I don’t understand why some councillors – e.g. Cr Elia Hauge – cannot see the reasons for rejecting this site, especially as another site has been suggested. I do understand that some councillors perhaps cannot let go of this proposal because there has been much work done on it.

But I am suspicious of the reasons that have been given, including the ‘millions’ of dollars relocation would cost. Perhaps there is a culture among councillors of ‘these people don’t know what they’re talking about’?

In the end, a petition

signed by more than 2,000 residents must be considered by Council because it means something.

Michele

Lacroix Mullumbimby

The ‘ongoing saga over the notorious intersection at Clifford Street, Suffolk Park’ continues with plans to source ‘more funding opportunities’ to further inquire into roundabout treatment. In the meantime, ‘risks are increasing as traffic volumes grow, reinforcing the need for a timely and effective safety treatment.’

So it is disappointing that, after 30 years, we are still seeing the issue ‘kicked down the road’ again on this endless merry-go-round.

Government funding

for land acquisition is not going to happen. So who is going to pay if a ‘compact’ roundabout on a sub-arterial road is rejected by Transport for NSW (TfNSW)?

A question was put to the representative of ‘Keep the Flow in Suffo’ at the most recent Council meeting – a chemical engineer based in Bangalow who does not live in beachside Suffolk Park.

Councillor Pugh queried his attitude if a modified roundabout or some other model was refused by TfNSW – would traffic lights then be acceptable?

This question has been put to his group before in an earlier Council meeting. It was unanswered, again.

Clearly ‘Keep the Flow in Suffo’ prefers ‘doing nothing’ to ‘lights’. Which is not addressing the problem for vulnerable road users in Suffolk Park at this black spot.

‘We don’t support spending grant money on a sub-standard option simply because the money is there’. Really?

Council’s decision-making in this context simply does not make sense.

Advocacy, and opposing poor ‘planning’ is indeed exhausting to the public, and I do have better things to do. Keeping

Same branch, same friendly team with more opportunities for you.

Staying customer owned

More regional resources to support local initiatives, sponsorships and sustainability.

Our upcoming October Community Merger Information Evenings:

▶ Continued on next page

Committed to staying as a customer-owned regional bank for the community. for more

Kingscliff 23 October, Kingscliff Beach Bowls Club, 5pm Ballina 27 October, Ballina RSL Club, 5pm Lismore 28 October, Lismore Workers Sports Club, Goonellabah, 5pm Refreshments provided

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The Suffolk Park intersection. Photo Google Maps

The hidden costs of our digital lives

Andrew Crockett

Smartphones are inherently addictive, and even former tech executives have acknowledged that many psychological design features are intentional.

Social media platforms are deliberately engineered to keep users ‘engaged’ on the screen. This is where maximising engagement matters more than human health.

More screentime means more advertising dollars, a business model that rewards addiction and raises serious ethical concerns.

BY S.R. STUART

These addictive patterns can create both physical and mental health problems.

and intentions are immoral, unethical, or simply exploitative, the fundamental mechanics undermine a basic human right: the freedom to choose what content we are exposed to.

Features like notifications, infinite scroll, and autoplay are engineered to keep users hooked, often exploiting the brain’s reward system.

it a form of behavioural addiction.

The addictive nature of smartphones and social media taps directly into the brain’s reward system, creating what is often described as the ‘dopamine effect.’

Each notification or scroll triggers the release of dopamine, which is the brain’s ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter. It reinforces the habit and drives a cycle of anticipation and reward.

Over time, this dopaminedriven loop conditions the brain to crave constant stimulation, mirroring patterns seen in other behavioural addictions.

Similar to gambling

Social media triggers small dopamine bursts, reinforcing repetitive checking behaviour in a habit loop similar to gambling.

▶ Continued from page 13

Chronic sleep deprivation, caused by overstimulation and late-night screen use, impairs cognitive function, weakens the immune system, and increases the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues.

Mental health may also suffer, with heightened stress, depression, irritability, and reduced attention span, particularly when restorative REM and deep sleep are disrupted.

Additionally, prolonged screentime often leads to physical inactivity, further contributing to poor overall health.

Big tech companies often frame these features as ‘optimising user experience,’ but the dopamine-driven reward cycle of social media mirrors mechanisms seen in substance addiction, making

While dopamine plays a central role, research published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience highlights that serotonin and cortisol also contribute to the addictive nature of device use.

Furthermore, the blue light emitted by screens suppresses melatonin, a hormone essential for the natural sleep onset process, further disrupting restorative sleep.

Exploiting vulnerabilities

This modern technology exploits our physical and psychological vulnerabilities, reinforcing compulsive behaviours and addictive patterns.

The question arises: is this ethical, or is it a deliberate manipulation of human nature for profit? Whether the framework’s designs

Today, sophisticated artificial intelligence algorithms, frequently aligned with political and commercial interests, determine the content we see. What appears in our feeds is no longer a choice; it is carefully curated and, in effect, force-fed.

The overarching ethos of this content delivery can be described as propaganda.

The systematic dissemination of information, ideas, or messages, often biased or misleading, intended to influence public opinion or behaviour toward a particular cause, ideology, or viewpoint.

Humans are wired to be drawn to temptation – a sugar-coated apple with a bite out of it is no accident.

If we are indeed living through a ‘spiritual war’ or experiencing ‘fifthgeneration warfare on the mind,’ then it is no great stretch of human intellect, nor of the human spirit, to recognise such a threat to our autonomy and respond accordingly.

However, it needs to be pointed out that the Council has a duty of care. It will be more than ‘uncomfortable’ if people are seriously injured or killed at this intersection, not to mention interesting, with potential litigation in court when Council had the power to avert such a tragedy with funding supporting ‘timely and effective’ action. May it never come to this, but the risk is there. As it is with the chaos of a mass evacuation from beachside Suffolk Park if we need to get out urgently.

Thank you to Councillors Pugh and Swain for support of the first recommendation which would have provided a solution while we wait indefinitely for the magic roundabout that has not appeared. Keep the Flow avowed to roll up their sleeves and get it done. It was handballed back to the SPPA by a key stakeholder. So we keep waiting, again. It is hard to contain my disgust as well

as utter despair with this situation.

Lynne Richardson Suffolk Park

Dangers of 4WDs

Regarding improving Evans Head beach access, our border collie was run over and killed last year at Airforce Beach.

The sad truth about this problem is a minority of people don’t obey the laws, and it’s only a matter of time before it will be a child.

There’s been a lot of erosion this year and when it’s high tide, there is limited beach to drive on, which brings the vehicles awfully close to the families enjoying the beach. Children do run in and out of the water all day, and I advise people to take your family down to the south side of the 4WD access.

To my wife and I, it was like losing our child, and I wouldn’t like anybody to go through that experience.

Paul Barrett

Evans Head

Echo

Thanks Echo, for making a space where peacemakers and eco-warriors can ‘keep breathing, slowly and gently’ as Jo Immig puts it in her op-ed article in last week’s Echo.  Her column sits next to Aslan Shand’s editorial urging readers not to be defeated by hysterical accusations of climate science being ‘fake news’ from the blustering right. And both writers invoke other female voices in their reflections – Aslan cites climate scientist Dr Nerelie Abram, and Jo, the saintly Jane Goodall.

Jo’s message is unashamedly emotional and poetical, as she draws attention to the urgency of the ‘betwixt and between’ moment in which we are all trapped, in the opposition between the overwhelming self-aggrandisement from various oligarchies on one side, and on the other side, the expressions of increasing

compassion and sharing among many ‘good’ men and women – notably here in our town.

The distance between the two opposing forces seems to be getting wider and wider, so starkly illustrated by Trump’s ‘hate your enemies’ war cry against Goodall’s simple message to ‘open our hearts’ to the continuity that can be fostered between all species that ‘transcends’ divisiveness and selfishness.

And a few pages on in The Echo there is the redoubtable Mandy doing battle with the ‘manosphere’ in social media where some male respondents express outrage at her post showing a photo of an ocean windfarm off the coast of the UK, creating an atmosphere of menace with their taunt that belief in climate change is ‘effeminate’.

Shock horror! Christine Willmot Byron Bay

All ages ride the waves at Byron Malibu Club

Local high school dropout’s karate gold

Ross Kendall Sensei Ric Light opened the first karate dojo in Byron Bay in 1977, and he was back teaching people again, at 70 years of age with a technique that has produced plenty of champions.

It was on for young and old when the Byron Bay Malibu Club (BBMC) took to the waves over the October long weekend to compete in the

BBMC members put on a very strong display with lots of podium finishes.

Participants came down from Brisbane for the event that included professional judging as well as cash prizes for the junior and open divisions, as well as plenty of

other prizes on offer, on the day and over the weekend, including boards.

The BBMC is one of the oldest longboard clubs in Australia and meets every second Sunday of the month for a surf at Wategos Beach.

Rous students beat all-comers

4 State

In the last week of last term teams from Rous Public School won the State Primary Schools Sports Association Small School titles in both netball and soccer.

The knockout competition finals are in Sydney. The school only has 85 students and both Rous teams were a mixture of years 3 to 6, with some students doubling up and playing in both teams.

‘The whole school community is rightly proud of such a huge achievement,’ said Principal Krystal Jenkins.

Small School Division 3 State Soccer Champions Patrick, Jess, Reef, Tilly, Quillan, Dartanyan, Ethan, Tahhi, Kilarnee, Joe, Chase, Aiden, Marley, and Liam with teacher Mr Brad Johnson. Photo supplied

Ric himself has had an impressive record in competition that includes being the NSW kung fu and Australian kickboxing champion, as well as a Hong Kong free-fighting champion, and being in the Australian karate team to compete against Japan.

Ric sees his real strength in teaching. His local dojo has produced many champions at local, state, national, and international levels; in karate, kung fu and kickboxing.

Female national karate champion

Trainees include the first ever female national karate champion Fairlie Beckner and Australian kickboxing champions, Peter Blumson, and Darren Perris.

David Eckford trained with Ric between the ages of 12 and 17, when he quit school and moved to Japan to train with one of the last grand karate masters, Hayashi Teruo Soke. David became the only non-Japanese to win the All-Japan karate championships.

Twenty years after being expelled from Mullumbimby High he earned a PhD in

human movement at the University of Queensland (UQ). This kicked off a career as a professor and global leader in sports coaching. Ric retired in New Zealand as Professor Emeritus and returned to Byron Bay in 2021.

Ric’s teaching and karate dojo can be found at the Ewingsdale Community Hall.

A trio of brothers play with the Pirates

No less than three Kernaghan brothers,

for the

in

All

first and second

have made

Blake, Ryan and Brayden, took to the field together

Lennox Head Pirates first-grade cricket team for the season opener on Saturday

Lismore.

three

their way up through the junior ranks. While the Pirates

grade squads didn’t get wins, the third grade side had a blinder beating Bangalow. Pirate Ian Gordon scored 120 off 86 balls, while Darel Vidler returned 6/30, all bowled. Photo supplied

Ross Kendall

Evans Head 34th Malibu Classic.

Sensei Ric Light at last year’s Matsuri festival. Photo supplied

Nicole Abbott, Indigo Abbott, Mahli Abbott, Louise Tiernan, Freya Abbott, Mick Gett and Daniel Abbott –all members of the Byron Bay Malibu Club. Photo supplied

Small Schools Division

Netball Champions Addy, Edie, Marley, Paige, Joe, Jess, Ethan, and Patrick with teachers Mrs Krystal Jenkins and Mr Brad Johnson. Photo supplied

Good Taste

Eateries Guide

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

North Byron Hotel

61 Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay (02) 6685 6500

Open: 11am Mon–Fri & 8am Sat–Sun

Kitchen hours: 11:30am–late daily Breakfast: 8am–11am Sat & Sun www.northbyronhotel.com.au

Three Blue Ducks

Located at The Farm 11 Ewingsdale Rd. (02) 6190 8966

Open every day from 7am. Mon-Thurs: breakfast & lunch Fri-Sun: breakfast, lunch & dinner

Roca Byron Bay

Open:

Everyday from 6:30am to late

14 Lawson St, Byron Bay (02) 5642 0149 @rocabyronbay www.rocabyronbay.com.au

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

Main Street

Open for takeaway daily, 12 midday until dinner.

Menu, more details –@mainstreet_burgerbar

18 Jonson Street (02) 6680 8832

Step away from the centre of town and into a shimmering oasis away from crowds. A tucked-away treasure, the North Byron Hotel is a thriving mecca of good food, great music, laughter and the ‘chilled Byron Bay vibes’. Eat Drink Discover

Delicious new winter dinner menu, live music every Sunday arvo, happy hour 3–5pm Friday to Sunday & our famous Sunday roast. Enjoy a wander in the fields, meet the pigs, and picnic in the sun… there really is something for everyone.

Latin fusion all-day dining

Come and try our new spring menu. 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

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.

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.

BYRON BAY

ALSTONVILLE

WILSONS CREEK

Sequel Bakery rising to the occasion

When local baker Will Petersen, and his sister Sophie, teamed up with mate and fellow baker, Dan Watts, Sequel Bakery was born and their handmade sourdough breads and pastries quickly gathered a cult following.

Each Thursday morning at Byron Farmers Market you’ll find a queue of local devotees, waiting patiently for their fix of fresh, locally-made croissants, cinnamon scrolls, Danishes and sourdough baguettes, rolls and loaves.

According to Will, the secret to great bread (and pastries) is all about ingredients and process.

‘We focus on organic sourdough breads with super-long fermentations and lots of hydration,’ he says. ‘So, ingredients are the main event for us! We take a very basic grain and turn it into a tasty loaf of bread with not much intervention.’

‘We use only three ingredients – flour, water and salt! That’s all we start with and by fermenting and developing those properties we end up with what’s known as sourdough bread. Flour is our key ingredient and we use organic flour from Wholegrain Milling who are based in Gunnedah and have been milling grains for over 40 years.’

A firm favourite with marketgoers is Sequel’s rustic sourdough, which is a mix of stoneground, wholewheat, and white flour, which Will says offers the flavour from the wholewheat and the structure of your regular bread. While on the pastry side, their cinnamon scrolls get the top gong – perfect, paired with a coffee!

Will’s favourite? ‘The tank loaf, which is our rustic dough baked in a large tin, and close second would be the large round – I love the big loaves. When it comes to the pastries, my pick is between the almond croissant and the cinnamon scroll.’

Will says the difference between locally-baked bread and its supermarket counterparts is like comparing night and day.

‘There are three keys to making a great loaf of bread – lots of time, quality ingredients, and a love of the process! And that’s the big difference between our breads and those in the supermarkets. They don’t take time to make bread, they use cheap ingredients (therefore they need additives) and they don’t love the process – it’s about mass production.’

You can find Sequel Bakery at Byron Farmers Market every Thursday morning.

Byron Farmers Market is held every Thursday from 7am to 11am at Butler St Reserve, and Bangalow Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 7am to 11am in Piccabeen Park.

Frida’s Field gains a hat

Well done to Chef Ally Waddell and the Frida’s Field crew for gaining a hat in the SMH Good Food Guide 2025, for what they describe as their ‘small farm restaurant’ at Booyong Rd, Nashua. They harvest produce from their own farm, as well as using produce from their preferred local farmers at the Byron Farmers Market, with the addition of wild, foraged, and indigenous bush foods. The menus change every six weeks and they describe the food as ‘rustic, yet refined… honest, creative and full of flavour’. Plus, the restaurant has a great view across the farm, making it a great wedding and events venue.

Will from Sequel Bakery at Byron Farmers Market.

health & healing

Dr Sam Gartland

Dr Sam Gartland is a UK-trained doctor, whose practice of medicine has been profoundly influenced by his own recovery from multiple sclerosis (MS). His area of interest is Lifestyle Medicine, a lifestyle approach centering on plant-based nutrition. Sam’s new practice, Life Medical Mullumbimby, offers Lifestyle Medicine consultations that address the causes of disease alongside GP services, skin-checks and natural therapies.

Sam also holds a Masters in Sports Medicine. He has worked with Premier League and ‘A’ League football clubs and has been published in Sports Medicine literature. He has been a retreat facilitator for Overcoming MS and is a co-author of the Overcoming MS Handbook. Sam is committed to empowering others with the skills and knowledge to optimise their health.

Life Medical Mullumbimby 02 6680 2486 113 Stuart St, Mullumbimby lifemedicalmullumimby.com.au

Mind & Body Transformation

Caroline blends 23 years of massage experience with intuitive touch to help you unwind and release tension and blockages. She uses Trigger Point Therapy for effective myofascial release, Hot Stones for deeper release and relaxation, and Cupping to illuminate pain and inflammation. Caroline, tunes into what each client needs to give them the result they are looking for from their treatment session. Her knowledge and expertise goes beyond the body and extends to psychosomatic therapies having trained with some world leaders in their field. Whether you have chronic pain, disease, insomnia or are suffering with your mental health, Caroline will infuse deep and profound healing into every session to get you feeling healthier and happier. cal@chillpilltherapies.com 0402 693 494 www.chillpilltherapies.com

Bangalow Headache Clinic

At Bangalow Headache Clinic they treat headaches and migraines, jaw pain, clicking, grinding and locking, as well as vestibular disorders and dizziness.

Michael Hayward has done extensive studies and exams, in both Australia and Europe, involving the head, neck and jaw. He has completed advanced vestibular competency training with the Northern American leaders in this area.

At Bangalow Headache Clinic they quite often find an overlap between headache and dizziness and/or headache and jaw problems.

If you experience jaw pain, locking or clicking, headaches, migraines or vertigo, call them on 0475 757 510 72 Byron Street, Bangalow www.bangalowheadacheclinic.com.au

Dr. Sergi Miralles

An expert in advanced aesthetic dentistry and fullmouth rehabilitation, Dr. Miralles brings 20 years of experience to Dental Implants & Aesthetics. With advanced knowledge in complex restorative treatments, Dr. Miralles has extended his services to the Northern Rivers community, providing locals with access to high-quality care that previously required travel to major cities. His patientcentred approach focuses on restoring smiles and confidence through cutting-edge procedures like All-on-X implants and hand-crafted porcelain veneers. Alongside Dr. Franck Page, who handles the surgical aspects, Dr. Miralles is committed to improving oral health and quality of life for patients at Byron Bay and surroundings.

For consultations or more information, contact Dental Implants & Aesthetics on 02 5643 9213

The Buttery

Since 1973, The Buttery has specialised in the care and support of people with mental health and alcohol and other drug conditions. As a not-for-profit, they have provided services to over 5,000 participants in the residential programs and 20,000 participants in its outreach services. The Buttery’s footprint stretches from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie in Northern NSW, and while they may be best known for their residential rehabilitation service in Binna Burra, they also offer a number of FREE community programs right across northern New South Wales. These include three Safe Haven hubs, drop-in centres based in Murwillumbah, Mullumbimby and Lismore to support community mental health.

For more information on their services, contact www.buttery.org.au or 02 6687 1111.

Healthy Smiles, Healthy You

Byron Bay Denture Clinic

Did you know ill-fitting dentures can impact more than your smile? Poor oral health has been linked to digestive issues, heart disease, and overall wellbeing. At Byron Bay Denture Clinic, Dental Prosthetist Troy Fraser understands the importance of comfort, function, and confidence. Dentures should generally be replaced every 5–7 years for full dentures and every 3–5 years for partials, as changes in the mouth’s shape can cause looseness, irritation, and poor fit over time. If your dentures are causing discomfort, clicking, or difficulty eating, it’s time for a review.

We offer free consultations — no referral needed! Book now to have your new dentures fitted before Christmas, and step into the new year smiling, healthy, and confident.

02 6685 8744

8/14 Middleton Street, Byron Bay www.byrondentureclinic.com.au

health & healing

Mullumbimby Optometry

Celebrating 35 years of caring for your eyes

This year Mullumbimby Optometry proudly celebrate 35 years of dedicated service to the community. For more than three decades, Colleen has provided expert care, kindness, and trust to generations of families, and we warmly thank her for building such a special practice.

Colleen will continue to care for your eyes, alongside local Jamie. All of the faces and staff you know and trust remain the same, with the addition of two more locals — Bobby and Greg — who join the team in continuing Colleen’s legacy of personal, professional eye care.

Mullumbimby Optometry always has, and always will be, built on the foundations of trust and loyalty, with eye care at the forefront. The practice has, and always will be, a local family-owned-and-operated clinic, carried forward through Colleen, Jamie, Bobby and Greg.

Thank you for being part of the journey — here’s to the next chapter in caring for your eyes.

Be Seen Eyewear Mullumbimby 02 6684 1799 | FAX: 02 6684 4395  mullumbimbyoptoms@outlook.com

byronhealing.com.au

Santos Organics

A social enterprise with heart and integrity

Since 1978, Santos Organics has been more than a health food store - it’s now also a 100% not-for-profit social enterprise dedicated to nourishing people and the planet. Every purchase directly supports local farmers, environmental projects and community wellbeing initiatives, ensuring your shopping choices create positive impact.

What truly sets Santos Organics apart is its unwavering commitment to ethics. Every product is carefully reviewed and approved by an in-house ethics and research specialist, ensuring that it meets the highest standards of sustainability, fairness and integrity. And with its vibrant cafes, a curated natural apothecary and free in-store naturopathic consultations, Santos Organics makes conscious living simple, affordable and deeply meaningful.

Open Mon to Fri 8:30am-6pm Sat 8:30am-5pm and Sun 10am-4pm 105 Jonson St, Byron Bay Unit 3, 7-17 Brigantine St, Byron Arts & Industry Estate, Byron Bay 51/53 Burringbar St, Mullumbimby  santosorganics.com.au

Byron Community College

nurture your wellbeing this term

This season, focus on health, healing, and personal growth with Byron Community College. Term 4 courses are designed to help you reconnect with yourself, your community, and the world around you.

Discover holistic and practical learning through Psychic Development, Tarot Reading, and the Father Circle, or strengthen body and mind with Yoga for Over 60s and First Aid Skills to build confidence in caring for others. For those drawn to the land, Regenerative Agriculture: Small Scale Farming (at The Farm, Byron Bay) offers a handson path toward sustainable living — and Golf for Beginners is a great way to move and unwind outdoors.

Join a welcoming community where learning supports wellbeing and lifelong curiosity. www.byroncollege.org.au 02 6684 3374

Byron healing is a go-to website featuring informative and entertaining articles on health and wellbeing. It features a host of practitioners and businesses in the industry, offering a range of modalities and services across the Northern Rivers.

Upcoming byron healing client events

Egyptian Emotional Clearing Technique - Practitioner Course

Held by: The Health Garden

Date: 10 - 17 November

Time: 8am - 6.30pm daily

Address: Ewingsdale

Booking contact: trybooking. com/CXUYT  |  0432 788 843

Provide First Aid

Held by: Byron College

Date: Fri 17 Oct, Mon 27 Oct, Wed 12 Nov, Mon 1 Dec, Fri 12 Dec

Time: 9.30am - 3.30pm

Address: 10 Shirley Street, Byron Bay

Booking contact: 02 6684 3374 , customercare@ byroncollege.org.au

Regenerative Agriculture: Small Scale Farming

Held by: Byron College

Date: 6 x Mon, 20 Oct – 24 Nov

Time: 9.30am - 3.30pm

Address: The Farm Byron Bay, 11 Ewingsdale Rd.

Booking contact:

02 6684 3374 , customercare@ byroncollege.org.au

Psychic Development

Held by: Byron College

Date: 6 x Thur, 23 Oct – 27 Nov

Time: 5.30 - 7.30pm

Address: Mullum campus (6/8

Burringbar St, Mullumbimby

Booking contact: 02 6684 3374 , customercare@ byroncollege.org.au

Golf for Beginners

Held by: Byron College

Date: 5 x Tue, 28 Oct – 25 Nov

Time: 12.15 - 2.15pm

Address: Ocean Shores Country Club, Ocean Shores

Booking contact: 02 6684 3374 , customercare@ byroncollege.org.au

Tarot Reading

Held by: Byron College

Date: 6 x Tue, 28 Oct – 2 Dec

Time: 6pm - 8pm

Address: Mullum campus (6/8

Burringbar St, Mullumbimby

Booking contact:

02 6684 3374 , customercare@ byroncollege.org.au

Father Circle

Held by: Byron College

Date: 6 x Wed, 29 Oct – 3 Dec Time: 6pm - 8pm

Address: Mullum campus (6/8

Burringbar St, Mullumbimby

Booking contact: 02 6684 3374 , customercare@ byroncollege.org.au

Yoga for Over 60’s

Held by: Byron College

Date: 6 x Tue, 11 Nov – 16 Dec

Time: 9.30am - 11am

Address: Mullum campus (6/8

Burringbar St, Mullumbimby

Booking contact: 02 6684 3374 , customercare@ byroncollege.org.au

Stress & Overwhelm Relief with EFT Tapping

Held by: Chill Pill Therapies

Date: Tuesday 21 October

Time: 6pm - 8pm

Address: Byron Bay

Booking contact: cal@chillpilltherapies.com, 0402 693 494

Free 5-day Tiny Challange

Held by: Divine Energy

Date: up till 8th of November

Time: flexible

Address: via phone

Booking contact: 0499 075 607, Sunita-result-choaching@gmx. com

FREE Webinar: The Shadow Side of Psychedelics and Integration with Namae Ntumae (USA)

Held by: Mind Medicine Australia

Date: 22 October 2025

Time: 12:00pm - 1:15pm

Booking contact: mindmedicineaustralia.org.au/ events/

Wanderlust Wellspring – A World-First: Transforming Mental Health Treatment with Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies

Held by: Mind Medicine Australia

Date: 25th October 2025

Time: 11am

Address: Wanderlust Wellspring Festival

Booking contact: mindmedicineaustralia.org.au/ events/

FREE Webinar: Be Your Own Chief Medical Officer with Dr Fleet Maull (USA), Dr Isaac Eliaz (USA) & Dr Kien Vuu (USA)

Held by: Mind Medicine Australia

Date: 12 November 2025 Time: 12 - 1:15pm

Booking contact: mindmedicineaustralia.org.au/ events/

Forum Natural Products Futures

Held by: Southern Cross University

Date: 23 and 24 October

Time: 9am – 5.30pm (Thursday), 9am – 1.30pm (Friday)

Address: Ballina RSL, 1 Grant Street, Ballina Booking contact: www.scu. edu.au/national-centre-fornaturopathic-medicine/events/ natural-products-futures-forum/

trusting hands,caring hearts

12 to 18 October is National Carers Week

National Carers Week is a time to recognise, celebrate and raise awareness about the 3 million Australians who provide care to a family member or friend.

This year’s theme is, ‘You are one, know one , or will be one,’ highlighting the widespread nature of caring – it affects virtually every person at some point in their lives.

Carers are people who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental health condition, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who are frail aged. Anyone can become a carer, at any time.

National Carers Week is an opportunity to raise community awareness among all Australians about the diversity of carers and their caring roles. An initiative of Carers Australia, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, and coordinated with the assistance and participation of the National Carer Network. www.carersweek.com.au

Eve Jeffery

No matter how much you love your aging parent or your terminally-ill loved one, committing to caring for someone until they ultimately fly away, is a huge undertaking and no matter how well equipped you feel you are, you’ll always need more.

I got a taste of caring when my 89-yearold mother slipped and broke her arm.

I moved into her house and stayed with her for almost three months until the cast came off and she learned navigated life again. And to be absolutely honest, after that time, we’d both had enough!

She was fairly fit and fairly well, and there was no need for me to be there. What that time did, was give us both an idea of what it would be like when it became a more permanent arrangement.

About two years later, I could see mum was declining but she resisted having me stay and having carers come in, so I’d come and visit with the excuse that I needed to sleep over for a night or two, ‘for work’. She didn’t need full-time care, but she did need someone to give the kitchen a good clean, do a load of washing, and to cook her some food that hadn’t been left on the bench for a couple of days.

Mum had decided very early on that she didn’t want to go into a nursing home if possible. I told her that I would do my best to make that happen.

To help me help her, one of the things we explored – possibly too late – but it was a godsend in the end, was the Aged Care Package Program. That was probably a saviour for keeping mum at home, but in the end, also saved the government a lot of money.

Mum started off at the lowest rate, and by the time she died she was on the highest rate which is a Level Four Package. This is what enabled her to stay at home with the availability of yard workers, cleaners, and in-home visits from a podiatrist, nurse, and physio, etc. But in reality, as her live-in carer, I did the bulk of the work.

Mum was pretty able for most of her old aged life: she managed to shower herself, but someone needed to be in the house; she could cook, but she needed someone to supervise (and make sure food didn’t sit on the bench for days after it was cooked); and in the last 18-months, she couldn’t really cook for herself at all.

After a lot of trial and error, (we started with one company and they totally sucked. It was very easy to change to another company, and don’t let anyone convince you it’s too hard) mum was lucky enough to have a carer who came into the house five hours a week.

I always called Jeana a flibbertigibbet, because she was bright and fluffy and airy, and she’d whizz around the house and get it nice and clean, and then she’d sit and talk to mum, and they would just talk about all sorts of things, frivolous things, important things, nostalgic things, all the things I didn’t have time to talk about – Jeana took some of the burden of mum’s social life off me.

What happens to you when you become a carer? A lot of things that you’re used to having fall away, including a full night’s sleep. There’s also all those boring, mundane things that you do for yourself, that when you have to do them for another person, it seems extra burdensome. Things like the extra dishes

and clothes to wash and hang up, the extra shopping (I am an annoying vegan: mum LOVED prawns) – there are a lot of extra things. I was fortunate that I have a partner who was able to help me with that, and that gave me time to concentrate more on mum.

The thing that I noticed the most, the thing that made the time happier for mum was making sure that I spent at least one meal a day sitting with her and eating and talking. I found it was really important for her to be able to share a meal with somebody and just talk about silly things – or whinge about Donald Trump, she hated his guts – or even just watch television together. Often infirm folk just want contact.

Practical things aside – It’s hard. It’s hard when you have a disagreement and you can’t be the teenage daughter who stamps her foot and slams the door on the way out, yelling, ‘I hate you’. It was hard for her. She couldn’t get in her car and drive off; I often didn’t do things the way she liked them done; she had to put up with my cooking and that I am a nudist – it means that there’s a lot of compromise. You both have to put up with things that you ordinarily wouldn’t in your own home under different circumstances. But there was also a lot of fun and conversations that will stay with me forever – once they are gone, you can’t get that time back …

I kept my promise – I was able to keep mum out of a nursing home. She spent her last ten days in the wonderful new hospital in Tweed Heads, but until then, she slept every night in her own bed. The biggest thing I’ve noticed since mum passed away is how much free time I have. For the first month I literally didn’t know what to do with myself, a feeling akin to when your kids have all started school – but, I’m over that now. Life!

trusting hands,caring hearts

In Celebration of National Carers Week

This week is National Carers Week, a time to recognise the incredible dedication of carers in our community—those who selflessly support elderly loved ones, people living with disability, or individuals with special needs of all ages. In our region, a variety of local and national services are available to support both carers and those they care for. These include respite care, support groups, mental health services, home assistance programs, and resources through the National Disability Insurance

Scheme (NDIS) and My Aged Care. Local community centres, carer support networks, and online platforms such as Carer Gateway also provide valuable guidance and connection. Whether you’re a full-time carer or helping a loved one occasionally, it’s important to know you’re not alone. This week, we honour your commitment and encourage all carers to reach out, connect, and take advantage of the many supports available.

At East Coast Care Connect, we empower individuals to reach their potential by providing personalised support to help them achieve their goals and live life to the fullest. As a trusted NDIS-registered provider across Northern NSW and SEQ, we deliver innovative, person-centred services that exceed the expectations of our clients and their families.

Our newest offering is a fully accessible farm-stay property in Lennox Head, purpose-built for comfort and inclusion, offering high-quality Supported Independent Living (SIL), Short Term Accommodation (STA), Medium Term Accommodation (MTA), a variety of tailored day programs, allied health services, and positive behaviour support.

With years of industry experience, our team brings practical know-how and heart. We partner closely with families, carers, and local communities, adopting a creative and inclusive approach to best support individuals. From everyday living supports to therapeutic services, we make NDIS options clear and accessible, creating an atmosphere of respect where diversity can thrive and dignity is never compromised. 0437 209 642

eastcoastcareconnect.com.au

admin@eastcoastcareconnect.com.au

Plan C warmly invites you to a free, inclusive and practical workshop series designed for people with disability, carers, support workers and allies. These sessions are an introduction, a chance to start the conversation and build confidence. They are not about completing your Person-Centered Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP) plan, but about exploring first steps and resources that can support you on the journey. This is a space to share experiences, ask questions, and gain confidence in preparing for future emergencies.

In each session you’ll:

• Identify personal risks in floods, fires and heat waves

• Learn practical steps to stay safe

• Explore what to do when deciding to STAY or GO in a disaster

• Discover resources to help you develop a personalised emergency action plan

Plan C’s mission is to build the resilience and regenerative capacities of Northern Rivers and Australian communities in the face of disasters and crises.

https://www.planc.org.au/starting-the-conversation

Pip Carter is an experienced individual in aged care. He helps people navigate through the various options for aged care to ensure the very best outcome.

Specifically Pip will help you:

• Understand the fee structure and the associated processes of entering a home care, residential (nursing home) facility, or Independent Living

• Find the most appropriate provider for you or your loved one in home care, residential care or independent living

• Navigate the various processes and paperwork required

• Prepare and plan for your future living and care requirements

• Understand what is available to you

• Speak to providers and explain to the client what they are offering

He will even inspect residential care with you. In short, Pip Carter is your aged care expert.

If you need your load lightened contact him soon.

0466 881 900 advancedagedcare@gmail.com advancedagedcaresolutions.com.au

Avalon Home Care is redefining in-home support across the Northern Rivers, offering compassionate, reliable care that helps people feel truly at home. Whether you’re navigating the NDIS, accessing My Aged Care funding, or seeking private care, Avalon’s flexible options are designed to meet your needs with dignity and ease.

With a focus on consistency, accessibility, and genuine alternatives to residential care, Avalon empowers clients to build strong relationships with dedicated carers. Services range from personal care and domestic help to companionship, transport, and 24/7 live-in support — all delivered with warmth and professionalism.

Avalon’s team understands the importance of local knowledge and personal connection. Their no-obligation, free consultations make it easy to explore care options without pressure, and their streamlined onboarding ensures support is available when it’s needed most.

For families, carers, and individuals seeking a better life at home, Avalon Home Care offers peace of mind and practical help — right here in our community.

To learn more or book a free consultation, visit www.avalonhc.com.au or call 0403 082 141

trusting hands,caring hearts

Honey Bee Homes offer small-scale, personalised aged care in the picturesque Byron Shire. Our caring  team provides 24/7 compassionate support, ensuring residents feel safe, valued, and at home.

No clinical spaces. No trolleys. Just homes filled with sunlight, warmth, and genuine care.

Enjoy a nurturing environment where our residents can maintain independence, form meaningful connections, and enjoy their local community .

Honey Bee Homes – Exceptional care, truly personal.

Honey Bee Homes

Changing the face of Aged Care enquiries@honeybeehomes.com.au honeybeehomes.com.au

‘Because caring for someone you love doesn’t have to mean doing it alone.’

In times of ill-health or reduced capacity, there is great comfort in remaining at home.

Lotus Palliative Care believes that everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and cared for in familiar surroundings.

Based in the Northern Rivers, the Lotus team understand the heart of the community, provide personal, professional care, and their compassion runs deep. Whether the person receiving care needs medical support or simply a helping hand, Lotus Palliative Care is dedicated to making life at home a little easier.

The organisation offers 24-hour access to both clinical and non-clinical support, giving families peace of mind knowing professional help is available.

Clinical care includes:

Palliative and end-of-life care • pain and symptom management • medication and diabetes support • wound, continence and bowel care • overnight assistance.

Non-clinical care includes:

Personal and respite care • meal preparation • light household help.

Lotus Palliative Care can be there when it matters.

Access services through Home Care Packages, the NDIS, or private funding. Call 02 6680 4800 or email info@lotuspalliativecare.com.au

Cryptic Clues

ACROSS

7.Report said to rectify uniform pressure (5,2)

Stephen Clarke #77

Quick Clues

ACROSS

6.Filthy lie almost admitted by gang (7)

9.Follower of Trump wasting no time with washer (5)

10.Dinner CEO ordered when secreting gland (9)

11.Spend up big, or, liberal with American capital, stand a round (4,3)

13.Diggers appear in suit (6)

15.Cool ladies perhaps cause trouble (13)

19.Follower of Victoria struggled audibly after erectile dysfunction (6)

20.Follower of Queen has cleaner legs, but no pigtail (7)

23.Most important cloth is made of rope (9)

24.Broadcaster has name and date removed from malfunctioning android (5)

26.View of performance, extremely racy (7)

27.Son leaves house to speed to Sharjah? (7)

DOWN

1.Follower of Gillard flushed Yankee out (4)

2.Legless bishop at game of chance (6)

3.Part of speech vital to describe record player at Echo (9)

4.Follower lied badly about uploaded photos! (8)

5.Possible monthly stop in America –number one, California! (10)

6.Understated words on screen don’t require information technology (6)

7.Elements of new ad evoke Cross (4)

8.Content of past housing agreement (6)

12.Dylan perhaps takes Spooner’s unethical practice shot (10)

14.Dunce hats distributed intact (9)

16.Progress essential to stop monsters (8)

17.Brother messages about God (6)

18.A horse prancing around on the beach? (6)

21.Skilled prosecutor put up with outof-control riot (6)

22.Tesla perhaps sent in via assembly (4)

25.Read out by loved one (4)

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

STARS

BY LILITH

Excellent astral news this week is Pluto moving forward in Aquarius and Venus and sashaying into Libra, her favourite homestay, to give the general ambience a grace and beauty upgrade …

6.Dirty and neglected in appearance (7)

7.Positive newspaper article or review (5,2)

9.Bathroom fixture for personal hygiene (5)

10.Relating to glands that secrete hormones (9)

11.Attack verbally or physically in anger (4,3)

13.Black suit in deck of playing cards (6)

15.Minor problem causing difficulty (13)

19.Name used by eight English kings so far (6)

20.Current British monarch (7)

23.Rope controlling a sailing boat’s mainsail (9)

24.Device for receiving broadcast audio signals (5)

26.Natural landscape (7)

27.Territory ruled by an emir (7) DOWN

1.Former Australian prime minister (4)

2.Extremely drunk (6)

3.Word describing a noun’s qualities (9)

4.Devoted follower (8)

5.Magazine or journal published at regular intervals (10)

6.Delicate or slight, not immediately obvious (6)

7.Walk through shallow water (4)

8.Bring satisfaction or happiness (6)

12.Composer of lyrics and music (10)

16.Female giants in folklore (8)

25.Term of endearment or expressing high cost (4) Crossword by

14.Without suffering injury or damage (9)

17.Greek messenger god with winged sandals (6)

18.On or to the land, away from water (6)

21.Clever or skilful (6)

22.Large group, especially of women or birds (4)

Last week’s solution #76

Walking the Walk

This morning I watched mist float through the treetops in the Wanganui Gorge. Soft greenness. The beginning of a new day. Tears ran down my cheeks. I don’t know if it was an overdose of the DEET in the Bushman repellent, or the build-up of lactic acid from three days of uphill hiking, but I felt very emotionally overwhelmed by this powerful, deep sense of connection. And really sore glutes.

We need wild places. Their fragility. Their fierceness. Their vulnerability. Their endurance. The lungs of the earth. This home for gliders, and koalas, and bush rats, and wallabies, and lizards and snakes. Oh fuck, so many snakes.

I’m not great with snakes. If a bush rustles I scream. I’m not the ideal person to take on a four-day hike where you carry your entire water and food supply, your tent, your cooking equipment, your torch, your stove, your clean undies. I mean how can a person even do that? On the back end of a month in Europe and the UK, staying in pretty bloody fancy digs, I agreed to a bushwalk with a bunch of nature-loving friends. People who’ve hiked before. I said yes, went overseas and three days after hitting home on a long haul from Europe I was standing in a carpark wearing gaiters, carrying a 20-kilo backpack, about to head off on the four-day, 42 kilometre self-guided hike through rainforests linking Mount Jerusalem and Nightcap National Parks. It’s called Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk, and it’s beautiful. And a bit brutal.

I might be a top chick, but I’m no Gina Chick. I’ve done my fair share of nature walks. You know the ones – where you drive to the carpark and go for an hour or so, and then drive home. Sometimes you have a picnic. Sometimes you have a swim. If you are going to camp, you drive to said location and bring everything – the esky, the barbie, the folding chairs. I’d never had to think about carrying everything I need for four days, on my back. Like a giant menopausal turtle.

It was good to see how much joy my very inexperienced packing gave to my fellow hikers – I didn’t just bring a lighter, I brought a flamethrower. I didn’t have a super-light backpack, I had a heavy canvas Wolfpak used by backpackers in the ‘90s. I didn’t use a water bladder with a tube, I had heavy metal water bottles. I brought fresh undies for every day. And every night. I was told I only needed two pairs. That seemed very unhygienic. But I guess it helps keeps the snakes at bay.

Everyone I told where I was going said, ‘watch out for snakes’. That is not helpful. I’m walking 42 kilometres through their, space.

ARIES: Lesson time continues with Chiron and Neptune retrograde in your sign, but on the good side, aren’t you learning a lot, and fast, Aries? This week’s Venus could easily fall for someone or something’s potential, so be aware of any tendency to see what you want to see rather than what’s there.

TAURUS: With your guiding planet Venus making the annual visit to her elegant home zone, pay attention to visuals, because looking your personal best is going to pay off. A caution, though: your willpower could be a little less than robust in the face of this week’s tempting pleasures.

GEMINI: Pluto’s moved forward, but with a quartet of outer planets still throwing retroshade, you might have the feeling of spinning your wheels, or hitting continual speed bumps. Try to understand that others are in their own process, moving at their own timing, which mightn’t be as fast as yours.

I might be a top chick, but I’m no Gina Chick. I’ve done my fair share of nature walks. You know the ones –where you drive to the carpark and go for an hour or so, and then drive home.

I quietly asked them for safe passage. I promised to tread lightly. To keep fighting for their wilderness, if they could refrain from biting me. Snakes are very reasonable creatures and upheld their part of the bargain. Although I can’t say the same for bush rats. I found one wearing my undies. Day one was OK. Eight kilometres, hiking up the mountain. By the time you arrive at camp you are spent. Everyone talks about day two. They say it’s hard. That’s the understatement of the century. Be prepared. Don’t eat breakfast until you get to the first lookout. Leave at 5.30am. Nothing could have prepared me ... 90 minutes of relentless ‘up’. Breakfast overlooking the Tweed Valley, a spectacular view, a cup of tea and a sense of achievement. Then more climbing. The Wolfpak on my back weighing me down. The jetlag, the head cold. The fact I’m 57. Did I mention I was the oldest person doing the walk across all the groups

CANCER: This week asks where could you bring more caring touches into daily life. Whether by connecting with coworkers, calling someone you’ve lost touch with, inviting people over, peacemaking in the family, starting a group, or joining an organisation, you’ll find your greatest strength lies in combined people power.

LEO: Venus at her best address, in the sign of artful partnering, is this year’s portal for introducing more beauty, grace and artistry into ongoing relationships. A harmonious aspect to Uranus, who favours unconventional thinking, could see sudden and surprisingly exhilarating solutions to relationship problems this week.

VIRGO: As October proceeds, be aware that the current Mars/Mercury meetup could reveal hidden agendas or underhand tactics. In which case, resist sharing critical observations; better to use Mercury’s clearsightedness to negotiate and play the long game with a cool and precise measure of strategy and control.

LIBRA: Venus in Libra for the finale of your birthday month multiplies your personal magic and gives permission to shamelessly indulge without any guilt hangover. Peak moment for celebrating your upcoming, and very promising, astrological new year? When the sun, Venus and new moon meet in Libra on 21 October.

SCORPIO: The dynamic duo of Mars and Mercury in Scorpio brings penetrating insights, inspired ideas and the energy and willpower to act on them. Intuitive hits are also strong, so listen to what’s operating behind the scenes of everyday common sense. The law of attraction is also working in your favour.

SAGITTARIUS: The current star scenario suggests the necessity of treading carefully in talks with coworkers or relatives. If expressing hard truths or offering feedback, keep it constructive, resist lashing out with melodramatic declarations. That said, Venus also stimulates plenty of pleasant and creative conversational interactions.

by about a decade? We found a fire trail in the shade to spread out sarongs and have a sleep in the heat of the day. Little did we know the worst of the heat was to come. The harshest part of the walk is along uncovered ridgelines – we did it in 33 degree baking sun. I could feel myself fading. Spots before my eyes. Heart racing. Nauseous. And just more and more hot, open spaces to climb. I realised I was getting heat stroke – so I found the first bit of shade and started doing the cool down. My fellow walkers, Elia and Kiri carried my pack, and limped me to shade. I felt that little voice inside wanting it to be over. Wanting to say it was too hard. To throw a tantrum and go home to my comfortable life. That’s the thing about discomfort – it’s uncomfortable. But I made it to camp. Eleven hours later we had completed the 16km hike. It made day three and day four seem like a breeze. Once you’d made peace with the blisters, the bruises, and the sciatica.

Finishing the walk with my two friends I felt such a great sense of accomplishment. Three women walking together. A woman in her 30s, a woman in her 40s, and me in my 50s. It felt like our solidarity had pulled me through. I appreciated my strong body and the privileges that it brings. But most importantly I was reminded of the power of Country. And how spiritual and profound walking Country can be. It’s hard, but do it. Just pick a cooler month. And cut back on the undies.

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: Capricorn’s planet mentor Saturn, architect of the material world, doing its final dance in Pisces, offers the deep and necessary breath to decide which Saturn qualities – duty, delivery, accountability, boundaries – need strengthening or loosening as you naturally outgrow what feels too tight and constrictive in your life.

AQUARIUS: After five months in hibernation, Pluto powers forward again in Aquarius and, ready or not, the planet of upheaval is pressing ‘go’ on a gamechanging overhaul of social systems and structures. So where does one single Aquarian start? By looking for ways to improve your small corner of the world.

PISCES: Saturn in your sign doing its last tour of due diligence before heading off for another three decades, is the best time possible for locking in the lessons of sustained effort and doing those unglamorous reps to build core competence for a more solid footing in the material world.

MANDY NOLAN’S

Volume 40#19

15–21 october, 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

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the all-star, Australian classic coming-of-age drama Looking

For Alibrandi is presented in a brand new 4K restoration for this special event at the ST. ALi Italian Film Festival. Director Kate Woods’ adaptation of Melina Marchetta’s novel won the AFI Award for Best Film in 2000, and resonated with audiences for its authentic portrayal of growing up in Australia and the secondgeneration migrant experience.

Screens 6.45pm on Wednesday at the Palace Cinemas, Byron Bay. Tickets from $37 at palacecinemas.com.au.

Experience an evening of soaring wooden flute melodies, toe-tapping jigs and reels, and evocative songs as virtuoso multi-instrumentalist Rennie Pearson brings his Celtic music show to Nimbin – Rennie’s performance blends traditional tunes and songs from Ireland, Scotland, and maritime Canada

with engaging storytelling, history, humour, and heart.

Thursday 7.30pm at Nimbin Town Hall. Tickets $25 at renniepearsonmusic.com.

Phil and Tilley started writing music together in the autumn of 2012 surrounded by an ancient woodland in the UK –they play a blend of alternative acoustic/folk music using a slide guitar, the more traditional acoustic guitar and an unusual, fold-up-for-travel, upright bass, to create a sound that is uniquely their own.

Friday from 6.30pm at the Murwillumbah Services Club. Free show.

Get ready for a foot-stomping, swampy-mojo-infused night as Marshall Okell brings his raw, energetic solo show to the front bar – a dynamic entertainer and master of blues roots, Okell delivers an unforgettable hillbilly disco experience –equal parts dirty blues, humour, and Aussie charm.

Tuesday from 6pm at The Northern, Byron Bay. Free.

For the first time ever, Ash Grunwald, Australia’s king of blues and roots, is hitting the stage with the Midnight Choir – directed by Janet Swain – in a soul-shaking, spirit-lifting night of music like no other.

Saturday sold out, Sunday from 4pm at the Bruns Picture House. Tickets from $55 at brunswickpicturehouse.com.

Featuring Errol H Renaud, C Soul is a fusion of grooves, beats, sounds and styles with the steelpan, reggae skanks, soca riddims and a touch of dancehall. From Trinidad & Tobago, Renaud is a pioneer of Caribbean music in Australia. Sunday from 3pm at the Shaws Bay Hotel, East Ballina. Free show.

Flukes of Sendington are visceral, loud and energetic. They soar through the cosmos fusing sounds of rock, psychedelia, funk and indie into the modern realm – they are a brewing force of memorable energy, an unforgettable experience!

Friday from 7pm at The Rails, Byron Bay. Free show.

Introducing the Backroom Banana Jam

Taste the jam, go bananas – the Backroom Banana Jam is The Northern’s brand new original live music series and this Friday the series will be launched by Royal Ratbags, Colbey and Drover

Who couldn’t love Mullumbimby’s all female post-punkers Royal Ratbags? This lil’ axis of awesome will headline the Backroom Banana Jam weekend with surf-twang storytelling journeyman Colbey, and alternative country outfit Drover.

The Ratbags are somewhat of a local supergroup consisting of members of Gimmy (Gimmy bass and Barclay drums) and Pasiflorez (Nic lead guitar/keys) plus lead singer Alli, and Grace (rhythm guitar/keys).

Royal Ratbags are about to release their grinding, infectious punk onto the streaming world with their first single due to drop sometime before Christmas, which will then lead to the release of their debut EP sometime mid-next-year.

Get ready because these rats are in your face!

Rock and roll, sweaty guitars, and whole lot of jam. Don’t miss it!

This free entry event is on at The Northern, Byron Bay, on Friday from 9pm.

The

ROYAL RATBAGS

Seven

Soulshine launch

It’s time to let your soul shine with Soulshine

Soulshine is a powerhouse blues-rock/ country-rock covers band led by the unforgettable voice of Linda Seale, whose soulful delivery and magnetic stage presence captivate audiences from the first note.

Whether she’s delivering a heart-wrenching ballad or firing up the dance floor with a funked-up classic, Linda connects deeply and instantly with every crowd – leaving them uplifted, moved, and wanting more.

Looney for Loonaloop

After an epic season of festivals across Europe and the UK – 30 shows in six countries, genre-bending, live, electronic collective Loonaloop returns to home shores, brimming with inspiration and eager to share the good vibes with Australian audiences.

PERIWINKLE

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 26TH

P R W R AY NOVEMMBE B H AYNOV 10AM-2PM ON BAY SE BYR ET ISTMAS MARKE

Soulshine’s sound is built around the expressive guitar work of John De Laurence (Jonny Dee), whose tasteful licks and soaring solos provide the perfect foil to Linda’s vocals.

Wunderkind Alfie Miller Sharp provides the keys. A conservatorium-trained musician, Alfie Miller Sharp’s musical maturity belies his young years and he adds an extra touch of class to the sound.

SUNRISE BLVD, BYRON BAY

CHRISTMAS MARKET LIVE MUSIC DELICIOUS FOOD BY LA CASITA SILENT AUCTION KIDS GAMES AND ACTIVITIES

YOUR VOLUNTEER IMPACT

BayFM local radio is vollies helping vollies. Every day we serve our community with messages from other are also volunteer-run.

Whether you can help us with some or design we’d love you to join us. Tech know-how and tradie skills most welcome!

If you can spare a couple of hours a bayfm.org Listen like a local

They are backed by a rock-solid rhythm section featuring Peter Cook (formally of too many to mention, but sadly missed from the Melbourne music scene, and now much appreciated up on the North Coast) on bass, and Stu Eadie (Karma County, The Whitlams) on drums – seasoned players who know exactly how to bring groove, feel, and finesse to every performance.

From Norah Jones to Susan Tedeschi, Fleetwood Mac to Chris Stapleton, Soulshine serves up a curated mix of soul, blues, roots, and laid-back rock classics – delivered with passion, artistry, and the kind of chemistry that only seasoned musicians can bring.

Soulshine launch themselves at The Ballina Blues Club on Sunday from 2.30pm at the Ballina RSL.

Aptly described as ‘stunning instrumental and vocal journeys entwined with killa electronica!’ – refreshingly unique, the band’s sound is a mélange of lush violin melodies and driving riffs, body-rocking didgeridoo, magnetic vocals, powerhouse drums, synths, samplers, and electronic gismos.

Loonaloop artfully weaves genres, traversing drum & bass, electro dub, gypsy house, tribal trance, with touches of folk and world music influence – creating a soundscape that is unpredictable as it is infectious.

Known for their spellbinding, high-energy performance, Loonaloop have become festival favourites worldwide. Their music connects with broad audiences, leaving a lasting imprint on the senses – and sweat on the dancefloor.

Celebrating over two decades of international touring, Loonaloop continues to evolve their sound and stagecraft – something clearly evident on their latest tour. From four killa shows at Glastonbury Festival to headlining packed-out tents and open fields at festivals across EU/UK – with crowds singing along to the tunes and dancing up a frenzy, safe to say the band truly left a lasting impression wherever they played.

Standout moments included: the breathtaking locations of some of the festivals they played; vocalist Shiney spontaneously stagediving and being carried the full length of the venue above the crowd; bearing witness to entire audiences falling under the enchanting spell of Loonaloop’s didge solos; and bouncing back from a serious mid-tour curveball that threatened the continuation of the tour.

After another wild ride around the globe, the band are ready to bring the music home. Sunday, 26 October will see Loonaloop members flying in from WA, Melbourne, and Sydney for their first show back in Australia –ready to raise it up, Loonaloop style, with the Byron Shire tribe, in a free show at the Beachy Sunday session!

Federal Family Fun Day

The Federal Communiy Children’s Centre is once again hosting their popular Family Fun Day

As a community-owned, not-for-profit centre, this year’s event will raise funds to install solar panels on the roof, furthering the centre’s sustainability initiatives.

Federal Community Children’s Centre Director, Mandala Dieh, says the centre is committed to operating as sustainably as possible. ‘Solar panels will not only help us do this, but will also reduce our operating costs as a not-for-profit centre.’

Families from across the Shire are invited to attend the free event, featuring a raffle, live music, food and cake stalls, and kids activities. Local band

The Imprints will be playing an ambient set for children and parents, while Indigenous group Bunyarabugalma Yoga will be running yoga sessions that promote connection to Bundjalung Country and language. Activities include Jugun Dandii weaving, Bush Kindy flower painting, facepainting, fire truck and more.

The day will also include a fantastic raffle filled with prizes from local businesses such as Synthesis Organics and Calmer Chai, along with artworks by Indigenous artists.

More than just a fundraiser, the Family Fun Day is an opportunity for local families from the centre and all surrounding schools and communities to gather together and strengthen community ties.

‘The event is dearly loved by the children and such a wonderful chance for all local families to enjoy a day together’, said Ms Diehl. ’It’s an opportunity to strengthen our community ties, while also supporting the centre.’

Saturday, 18 October from 10am to 2pm. Federal Community Children’s Centre, 898 Binna Burra Road, Federal.

A Spaghetti Western for Bruns

Spaghetti Circus and Brunswick Picture House are set to co-produce a breathtaking new show the circus spectacular Spaghetti Western, for its world premiere season at Brunswick Picture House from 29 October to 9 November.

Directed by Australia’s award-winning, all-female, internationally-acclaimed circus sensation YUCK Circus, Spaghetti Western stars Mullumbimby’s extraordinary Spaghetti Circus Performance Troupe in a daring reimagining of the classic western.

This high-energy production sees Northern Rivers’ finest flipping, flying, and

fearlessly crafting a world where heroes rise, dreams collide, and the Wild West gets a delightfully Spaghetti-style makeover.

Expect prancing ponies, spectacular acrobatics, gravity-defying stunts, bar fights, cow folk, and a heartfelt celebration of courage and community, all set to toetapping music. This rollicking new work will have you cheering, gasping, and laughing along with Spaghetti’s talented performance troupe as they lasso the spirit of the Wild West and bring it to life with their signature circus flair.

From the dusty saloons to the open plains, it’s a wild ride for all ages!

Spaghetti Western opens on 29 October for a ten-show season. Tickets and information at eventfinda.com.au/2025/spaghetti-western/brunswick-heads.

Berthold Auerbach

DAVID GULPILIL’S JOURNEY HOME

This year, the Byron Bay International Film Festival (BBFF) will be screening an extraordinary film, Journey Home, David Gulpili– an intimate and deeply reflective film, and a rare, moving insight in the meaning of returning home to country.

Directed by Maggie Miles and Trisha Morton-Thomas, the film follows the final wish of the late screen icon David Gulpilil, one of Australia’s most revered actors, as he is laid to rest in his homeland.

Seven spoke to MAGGIE MILES about this epic project.

What was it that drew you to making this film?

I knew that Witiyana Marika was going to go the cultural send-off for David and I understood that for many of us outside the family, the laying to rest of this great Yolngu actor offered a window into what is regarded as the oldest surviving culture on the planet. That’s pretty cool, and Trish and I wanted to see that, and figured many other people would too. Then, stage upon stage of the journey, we did experience exactly that, a window into a remarkable culture, because the events on David’s homeland, performed as an affirmation of him and of Yolngu culture, were simply extraordinary. Did you ever meet/work with David?

I met David quite a few times. I saw Walkabout when I was in lower high school, in a village in the middle of England, and have never forgotten it. I always had this

MAGGIE MILES AND TRISHA MORTON-THOMAS Read the full interview online www.echo.net.au/category/entertainment/interviews

impression of Australia as a culturally rich, fascinating, and adventurous place, so when I had the opportunity to come here I didn’t hesitate. As a young person finding my way, I gravitated towards the Northern Territory and I found it an enlivening place.

I lived in Darwin through the 1990s and worked in film and theatre. One of the projects was a film called Yolngu Boy

Our film company Burundi Pictures was a co-producing entity on Yolngu Boy, I was casting director and worked closely on the production with Dr Patricia Edgar and Gordon Glenn who both did an amazing job producing. During our casting workshop, we had about 20 young men and women trying out for the roles, and David came in as a mentor. He was amazing. Everyone was captivated by him, he danced and sang and completely ignited the young actors in the room.

Was it tricky getting everything right as far as the local culture goes?

We worked extremely closely with members of David Gulpilil’s family, which include representatives from many clans. They are mostly Yolngu families. We worked with Jida Gulpilil, David’s eldest son, Joyce Malakuya Malibirr, David’s eldest niece, and Lloyd Garrawurra, David’s eldest grandson, and a key group of cultural advisors from the Gapuwiyak community, this includes Peter Guyula, Alfred Yangipuy Wanambi and their families. Then there were many family members who advised us and who welcomed us as we followed the story of David’s return to country and got deeper and deeper into witnessing very private, and very sacred ceremonies.

Were you ever overwhelmed by the gravity of what was going on around you?

There were moments when we were all hit by the waves of emotion, and the power in the strength of feeling and strength of culture. But then there are the practicalities. The shoot was bare bones, it was a small crew, and the events, of course, went for longer than originally planned because more and more family were coming to pay their respects.

It was so great. A once-in-a-lifetime adventure and one that audiences can vicariously experience because when you see the film, as we’ve heard from many people, you feel like you’re there. This was a gift from the families, the invitation to attend and to share in this amazing moment, to see how they honoured one of Australia’s great screen legends. What was the defining moment for you during production?

Having Hugh Jackman accept the family’s invitation to narrate the film because of his love for David was an amazing moment. Then thinking about the shoot, staying on the homeland for the last five days was something I will never forget.

The 19th Byron Bay International Film Festival will return from Friday, 17 October until Sunday, 26 October at cinema venues across the Northern Rivers region. Find out more at bbff.com.au.

seven

Seven GIG GUIDE

So much fun to be had in Bruns

Documentaries, circus, stand-up comedy, burlesque and two of Australia’s most loved musos – there’s something for everyone at the Brunswick Picture House! They’re just days away from the world premiere of Spaghetti Circus’s new production, Spaghetti Western, a new, rollicking, all-ages wild ride for the whole family – with three sessions already sold out, don’t be the one who missed out!

Wednesday, Rising Tide presents two direct action doco films Turning The Ship and To Kill A War Machine, with live panel discussion. The world’s best new action sports films are featured in the Adventure Reels Tour on Thursday, they keep selling out so The Road To Patagonia is back for one more encore screening on Thursday, 6 November

Be sure to check out the five unmissable docos featured here with Byron Bay International Film Festival on Saturday and Sunday, 25 and 26 October Australia’s king of blues and roots teams up with a full gospel choir as Ash Grunwald is back with two big shows this Saturday and Sunday Multi-award-winning Emily Wurramara also storms the Bruns stage on Friday, 24 October to celebrate her new release ‘Adore Me’

Limited tickets remain for ‘Amazing’, Alex Lloyd’s hugely anticipated show on Thursday, 27 November You’ve laughed at them on TV and now, two superstar comedians, at the top of their game, bring their delightful new shows to Bruns for the first time: powerhouse veteran Dave O’Neil (this Friday) and the warm and affable Tom Cashman on Friday, 14 November

Finally, don’t sleep on the return of the burlesque spectacular Wild Women: With Pleasure featuring a fierce and tantalising coterie of striptease artists on 13, 20 and 21 November.

Tickets for all shows at brunswickpicturehouse.com.

WEDNESDAY 15

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, GUY KACHEL

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM INO PIO

THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM JOE CONROY

9PM DUELING PIANOS:

BODHI ACTON & MITCHELL DORMER

BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE

HOUSE 6PM TURNING THE SHIP AND TO KILL A WAR MACHINE

THE PADDOCK PROJECT, MULLUMBIMBY, 4PM CURRY JAM

THURSDAY 16

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, ROGUE ELEMENTS

THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 7PM AMBER ROSE & JACK

THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 5PM KANE MUIR DUO + DJ

– QUENDO, 9PM DUELING

PIANOS: BODHI ACTON & SAM WHEAT

NORTH BYRON HOTEL 5.30PM OPEN MIC

HOTEL BRUNSWICK 6PM ANDY JANS-BROWN

BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE

HOUSE 7PM ADVENTURE REELS TOUR 2025

SAINT MARIES, BRUNSWICK HEADS, 6PM MONDO HUM

LENNOX HOTEL 8PM

THURSDAY JAM NIGHT

KELP, BALLINA, LILY GRACE GRANT

PEARCES CREEK HALL, PEARCES CREEK 7PM THE MAES

REEVES + DJ …DA, 8PM

DUELING PIANOS: JOHN

HILL & SAM WHEAT + SHANE

PARRY & DIZZY J, 9PM ROYAL

RATBAGS, COLBEY, DROVER

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 8PM THE DUSTY TRAIL

TROUBADOURS

HOTEL BRUNSWICK 6PM BOO

SEEKA + TAYA

BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 7PM DAVE O’NEIL

WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 4PM DJ AFRODESIA

ST JOHN’S SCHOOL HALL, MULLUMBIMBY, 7.30PM

ECSTATIC DANCE MULLUM WITH DJ PEACH

MIDDLE PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 8PM KRAPPYOKEE WITH JESS

LISMORE CITY BOWLO 7PM THE SUPPER CLUB SOUL BAND

FRIDAY 17

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, FLUKES OF SEDINGTON ELEMENTS OF BYRON 5PM MANOA

PALACE CINEMAS, BYRON BAY, 6.30PM BYRON BAY

INTERNATIONAL FILM

FESTIVAL’S OPENING NIGHT – BIRTHRIGHT

LENNOX HOTEL 9PM JOCK

BARNES BAND

CHERRY STREET SPORTS CLUB, BALLINA, 7PM BEN & VIC, 7PM

CHILDREN OF BOB

THE LEVEE, LISMORE, 8PM DJ

MURRAY

MURWILLUMBAH SERVICES

CLUB 6.30PM PHIL & TILLEY

KINGSCLIFF BEACH BOWLS 6PM GRAEME TOWNSEND

SALTBAR, KINGSCLIFF, 6PM LACHIE DWYER

CLUB TWEED 7.30PM BRIT BEAT MANIA

SATURDAY 18

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, WILL CLIFT, NANAS AND BUTTERMELLOW

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM JEROME WILLIAMS DUO + SHIMMY

NORTH BYRON HOTEL 5PM DJ ALICE Q

THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 7PM BOUKABOOLOZA + DJ

VISCOSITY, 8PM DUELING

PIANOS: SAM WHEAT & DIZZY + JAKE BISTROW & BODHI ACTON

BANGALOW HOTEL 6PM

DROVER + MYLEE GRACE

HOTEL BRUNSWICK 4.30PM LUKE HAYWARD BAND

BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE

HOUSE 7PM ASH GRUNWALD

WANDANA BREWING CO.,

MULLUMBIMBY, 3PM BIG BOSS TING 2

MULLUMBIMBY EX-SERVICES

CLUB 6PM KHANAGE & EVA JOHNSON

BILLINUDGEL HOTEL 6.30PM

JB’S BLUES BREAKERS

LENNOX HOTEL 9PM

BEATDUSTA

BALLINA RSL BOARDWALK 6PM HAYLEY GRACE

CHERRY STREET SPORTS

CLUB, BALLINA, 7PM

FLOORBURNERS, 8PM JOE

CONROY BAND

AUSTRALIAN HOTEL, BALLINA, 9PM DJ FRXSTY & MR MANA

THE LEVEE, LISMORE, 8PM

LUKE BENNETT

BALLINA RSL BOARDWALK

2.30PM BALLINA BLUES CLUB FEAT SOULSHINE

AUSTRALIAN HOTEL, BALLINA, 3PM NATHAN KAYE

SHAWS BAY HOTEL, BALLINA, 3PM ERROL RENNAUD C SOUL

ELTHAM HOTEL 4PM NIKKI LANE

UKI MARKET 9AM GREGORY

KINDREAD AND THE ONE LOVE ALLIANCE + WOMANERA FEAT. LADI

ABUNDANCE AND SANNE KENNA

CLUB TWEED 1PM DAVE

GRAY + CURT LUXTON

TWIN TOWNS, TWEED HEADS, THE SHOWROOM 2.30PM MURPHY’S PIGS

MURWILLUMBAH SERVICES CLUB 6PM STEPHEN

LOVELIGHT

SALTBAR, KINGSCLIFF, 6PM JOCK BARNES

KINGSCLIFF BEACH BOWLS 6PM TURTLE BOY

CLUB TWEED 7.30PM THE HITMEN

TWIN TOWNS, TWEED HEADS, THE SHOWROOM 8PM THE ROY ORBISON STORY

SUNDAY 19

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, PABLO LAVERDE

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 4.30PM ABBASBACK

THE NORTHERN, BYRON

BAY, 8PM DJ REIFLEX, 9PM

DUELING PIANOS: SHANE

PARRY & DIZZY J

MONDAY 20

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, KANE MUIR

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM JASON DELPHIN

THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM COASTY + JEROME WILLIAMS, 9PM DUELING PIANOS: DIZZY J & MITCHELL DORMER

TUESDAY 21

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, KRISTAN BURNNAND

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM PHIL HOWELL

THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM MARSHALL OKELL, 9PM DUELING PIANOS: MITCHELL DORMER & SHANE PARRY

HOTEL BRUNSWICK 4PM

HUSSY HICKS

BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 4PM ASH GRUNWALD

WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 3.30PM DJ DARLAN

BILLINUDGEL HOTEL 1PM LEZ KARSKI

LENNOX HOTEL 4PM LILLI

ROSE SHEEN

LENNOX PIZZA 5PM LACHLAN JAQUES

TWIN TOWNS, TWEED HEADS, THE SHOWROOM 11AM BACK TO THE TIVOLI

WEDNESDAY 22

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, MATEO

THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM OLE FALCOR, 9PM DUELING PIANOS: BODHI ACTON & MITCHELL DORMER THE PADDOCK PROJECT, MULLUMBIMBY, 4PM CURRY JAM

A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE (M) Thurs: 10:50AM, 3:40PM, 6:00PM. Fri: 10:45AM, 3:40PM. Sat, Sun: 3:40PM, 6:00PM. Mon: 3:15PM, 8:30PM. AFTER THE HUNT (MA15+) NFT Thurs, Mon, Tues: 11:00AM, 1:30PM, 4:20PM, 5:45PM, 7:15PM. Fri: 11:00AM, 1:30PM, 4:20PM, 8:20PM. Sat: 11:00AM, 12:50PM, 4:20PM, 5:45PM, 7:15PM. Sun: 11:00AM, 12:50PM, 4:20PM, 5:45PM. Wed: 11:00AM, 1:30PM, 4:20PM, 5:45PM

BALLAD OF A SMALL PRAYER (MA15+) NFT Thurs: 4:00PM, 8:30PM. Fri: 10:50AM, 8:30PM. Sat, Sun: 3:30PM, 8:30PM. Mon, Tues, Wed: 4:00PM, 8:00PM BEAST OF WAR (MA15+) Thurs, Sat, Sun: 8:40PM. Tues, Wed: 8:30PM BLACK PHONE 2 (MA15+) NFT Thurs, Fri, Sun: 1:10PM, 3:30PM, 6:00PM, 8:40PM. Sat, Mon, Tues, Wed: 1:10PM, 3:30PM, 6:00PM, 8:30PM DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE (PG) Daily except Sat, Sun: 11:15AM ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (M) Thurs, Mon, Tues, Wed: 12:50PM, 4:10PM, 7:20PM. Fri: 12:50PM, 4:10PM, 5:45PM. Sat, Sun: 1:10PM, 4:10PM, 7:20PM ROOFMAN (M) NFT Daily except Fri, Mon: 1:00PM, 3:30PM, 8:20PM.Fri: 1:00PM, 3:30PM, 8:30PM. Mon: 1:00PM, 3:30PM, 7:45PM THE CONJURING: LAST RITES (MA15+) Daily except Fri, Sat: 8:20PM THE ROSES (MA15+) Thurs: 11:00AM, 6:50PM. Fri: 11:00AM. Sat, Sun: 10:45AM. Mon, Tues, Wed: 11:30AM THE TRAVELLERS (M) NFT Thurs: 1:15PM, 4:00PM, 6:10PM. Fri: 1:15PM, 4:00PM, 6:30PM. Sat: 1:15PM, 3:40PM. Sun: 11:00AM, 6:30PM. Mon, Wed: 11:00AM, 1:10PM, 4:00PM, 6:10PM. Tues: 1:10PM, 4:00PM, 6:10PM TRON: ARES (M) NFT Thurs: 11:30AM, 4:15PM, 8:15PM. Fri: 4:15PM, 8:40PM. Sat: 10:50AM, 8:40PM. Sun: 10:50AM, 1:40PM, 8:40PM. Mon, Tues, Wed: 11:30AM, 2:10PM, 4:15PM, 8:15PM

PALACE BYRON BAY

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.

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.

PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notice of Praecipe, Tacit Acceptance and Reconveyance Wilhelmina Elsa Ford© of Reedy Creek, Queensland state is not a voluntary transactor in commerce, and is the irrefutable Holder in Due Course of her property and all associated Copyright Protected Trade Names, including Dustin Hartley Smith RPP44

639000510020133 23600

Proclamation Date 30th December 2024 and Monique Zoe Smith RPP44 63900051002013203605 Proclamation Date 30th December 2024, since the rebutted lawful reconveyance to the Land and Soil jurisdiction of Terra Australis, commonly known as The Commonwealth of Australia. Wilhelmina Elsa Ford© Public Record Number RPP44 63900051002013202608, with Proclamation Date 25th November 2024 does sever Usufruct Subjugation ties with the Australian Corporation in entirety. The occupying corporate government of Australia and its affiliates are instructed to immediately cease and desist any further infringement upon these copyright protected Financial Instruments and cease and desist misaddressing Wilhelmina Elsa Ford© in fraudulent debased dog-Latin; Glossa.

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.

Supporting mums, building confidence together.

Make a difference in a mum’s life.

0490 409 039 supportfornewmums.com.au

Norman John Williamson

21.02.1929 - 25.09.2025

Late of Mullumbimby formerly Research Vic.

Loved husband of Mary (dec), loving dad of Mark and Leigh (dec), Anna and Cameron, Frankie and Mark, Evie, Tom (dec) and Alison.

Pipi to Geordie, James (dec), Ruth, Will, Em, Nessa, & Seb and their partners. Great grand-dad, Pipi to Juniper, Lilian, Eleanor, Harrison, Lincoln and Hugo.

Warm thanks and appreciation to the staff at BUPA Pottsville for their care and kindness.

Found his comfy spot. At Peace. Privately cremated.

The Mullumbimby Rural Co-Op wishes to advise its members that the AGM will be held at 5.30pm on Wednesday 29 October 2025 at the Co-Op

BYRON SHIRE RESPITE SERVICE INC

The AGM will take place at 4.30pm on Tuesday 18th of November 2025 at 42 South Beach Road,

the tragic loss of Willow Gollan-Essex

Willow was a much loved part of our dance community – she was a talented dancer, a charming soloist, a valuable member of our groups and a wonderful help teaching younger children. We send our heartfelt condolences to Willow’s family and friends

Classifieds Community at Work

ONLY ADULTS

BALLINA EXCLUSIVE

34 Piper Dr. Open 7 days 10am till late. In & Out Calls. 66816038. Ladies wanted Find us on Facebook and Twitter!

On The Horizon

DEADLINE NOON FRIDAY

Email copy marked ‘On The Horizon’ to editor@echo.net.au.

Medical Laboratory Assistant Pathology Collector / Phlebotomist

Location: Lismore Base Hospital

Employment Type: Various temporary and permanent Full-Time opportunities

Technical Assistant Grade 2

Remuneration: $61,889.52 to $64,260.00 per annum plus superannuation

Hours Per Week: 38

For role related queries or questions contact Jay Pereira on Jay.Pereira@health.nsw.gov.au

Applications Close: 22 October 2025 at 11:59pm

NSW Health Pathology are seeking temporary and permanent full-time Phlebotomists to work with our blood collection team. Primarily based at Lismore, but you may also be required to work across multiple sites including Casino and Ballina.

Applications must be lodged electronically at iworkfor.nsw.gov.au and search Job Reference Number REQ611511

Meet Andy – a 1.5-year-old black-and-white DSH cat with the perfect mix of playful charm and snuggly sweetness. Initially shy, he warms up quickly and loves chin scratches, cuddles and the company of other cats. Andy brings calm joy, has great litter manners and still has that fun kitten energy. If you’re ready for a laid-back, lovable companion, come and meet Andy – he might just be the perfect fit for your home! Rehoming Number R251000060

T: 6681 1860 E: shelter@nras.org.au W: www.nras.org.au

Byron Dog Rescue (CAWI) B E L

Meet the Gorgeous Bella! Wire-Haired Fox Terrier | Female | 5yrs Desexed. Say hello to Bella - a sweet, spirited little Fox Terrier with loads of love to give! Deeply adored by her elderly owner, she’s looking for a new home due to changing circumstances. Bella walks beautifully on lead, has basic training, and loves people and cuddles. She’s best suited to a home without children or cats and can be selective with other dogs. visit www.byrondogrescue.org. MC: 953010004949310

complete our online adoption expression of interest. https://friendsofthepound.com/ adoption-expression-of-interest/

KRYSTAL ADULT SHOP

Large variety of toys and lingerie 6/6 Tasman Way, A&I Est, Byron Bay 66856330

SOCIAL ESCORTS

LOTS OF GORGEOUS LADIES available for your pleasure nearby. Spoil yourself. In-house & outcalls. 7 days. 0266816038.

Mullumbimby Drill Hall Film Society

The next screening is Wednesday October 22 at 7pm with the doors, bar and kitchen open from 6.30pm. The classic 1966 film, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf, will screen, which is based on the famous play by Edward Alby and adapted for film by Mike Nichols. It stars Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor as middle-aged, bitter academics, who invite a younger couple to their home for drinks after a faculty party. It has always been regarded as a masterpiece, depicting domestic drama and pushing the boundaries of what was considered appropriate at the time. The film will be previewed and discussed afterwards by Peter Gough. For all enquiries and bookings please email drillhallfilmsociety@gmail.com. Annual membership is now due and guests are always welcome.

Tech-savy seniors

Free, fun tech lessons are on at Byron Bay Library. Join our friendly training sessions where library staff help you to get online and build your digital skills. The 40-minute Friday sessions offer a broad range of topics to choose from that will help you gain confidence and stay connected. Bookings essential at: www.rtrl.nsw. gov.au or phone the Byron Bay branch 6685 8540.

Co-dependents Anonymous

1.35 0231 0.20; 1507 0.33 22W 6:02 18:58 6:02 19:41 0938 1.57; 2134 1.29 0257 0.19; 1545 0.34

23TH 6:01 18:59 6:34

Friends of Libraries AGM

Friends of Libraries Byron Shire are holding their Annual General Meeting on October 15 in the Arakwal Room, Byron Library at 10am. All positions will be declared vacant, opening up a wonderful opportunity for those interested in supporting and fundraising for our local shire libraries. The members are a vibrant and interesting group working to raise funds through the well-known Annual Book Fair, book events and all things that keep the libraries functioning so well in our community.

Market

Guide Find it online: www.echo.net.au/market-guide

MONTHLY MARKETS:

1st SAT: Brunswick Heads Markets – 8am–2pm

1st SUN: Byron Community Market – 8am–3pm Pottsville Beach Markets – 7am–1pm

2nd SUN: The Channon Craft Market – 9am–3pm

Chillingham Markets – 8am–1pm

Coolangatta Arts & Craft Markets – 8am–2pm Tabulam Community Market – 9am–1pm

3rd SAT: Mullumbimby Community Market – 8am–2pm

Murwillumbah Makers & Finders Market – 9am–2pm

Salt Beach Markets, South Kingscliff/Casuarina – 8am–1pm

3rd SUN: Federal Village Market – 8am–2pm

Uki Buttery Bazaar Market – 8am–2pm

Pottsville Beach Markets – 7am–1pm

Lismore City Bowlo Markets – 9am–1pm

4th SAT: Kyogle Bazaar – 9am–2pm

Last SAT: Evans Head Rotary Market – 8am–1pm

4th SUN: Bangalow Market – 8am–2.30pm Nimbin Markets – 9am–3pm

Murwillumbah Showground Market – 8am–1pm

4th SUN (in a 5-Sunday month): Coolangatta Arts & Crafts – 8am–2pm

5th SUN: Nimbin Markets – 8.30am–3pm

Co-dependents Anonymous (CoDA) is a 12-step fellowship whose common purpose is to develop healthy and loving relationships with others and ourselves. We warmly welcome anyone, whether you have experience in the program or are a newcomer, to attend our 2025 convention on 18 October, 9am to 3.30pm, at Marvell Hall, Byron Bay. Tickets can be purchased on the day or via the link on our website: codependentsanonymous.org.au.

A delicious veg/gf lunch is also available for purchase in advance via the ticket link. This will be a wonderful opportunity to connect with people who are dedicated to recovery from self neglect, abuse and abandonment. Whatever you may think about the word co-dependency, be prepared to rethink it! ‘To thine own self be true’.

Useful plants walk in Lismore, October 26

Sunday 26 October, there will be a

Useful Plants Walk with Andreas from 9.30 am till 10.30am. This walk is designed to show visitors the local dry rainforest plants used by Aboriginal people for over 40,000 years, for medicine, tools, food and shelter. It is a shady, unpaved walk, with one small incline. Adults $5, children free cash or card. Meet at 9.45 am at the Visitor’s Centre at the Gardens 313 Wyrallah Road East Lismore. Bookings essential. Email publicity@ friendslrbg.com.au Wear sturdy shoes, long sleeves, pants and a hat. Join us for morning tea in the Visitors Centre after the walk (gold coin donation appreciated).

Friends LRBG is a not-for-profit volunteer organisation which founded, manages and maintains the gardens.

Bruns CWA craft and sewing sale, Oct 18

Brunswick Heads CWA Branch will be holding a one-off craft and sewing supply grand sale on Saturday, 18 October from 10am to 2pm at their hall on the corner of Booyun and Park streets, Brunswick Heads. Fabrics, lace, threads, wool, candlewicking, yarns, patterns and much more. Tea and cakes will be available to purchase. Contact 0431 908 063. Together She Thrives Together She Thrives is a local NFP in the Byron Shire helping women and teen girls connect, grow and thrive. They will be holding a free fascia release workshop undercover at Mullum Netball Courts on Wednesday, October 22 from 8.15am to 9.30am. A free crochet and knitting workshop in Mullumbimby will be held on October 31 from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. A free guided bushwalk in the Byron Shire will be held on Sunday, November 9 from 9am to 12pm.

V A D E R VADER

Meet Vader, a big handsome tabby boy who will love you to bits! If you want lots of attention from your fur friend then he’s your boy. He will follow you around like a dog! We all love him at the shelter. Desexed and vaccinated, D.O.B 1/3/21 M/ chip 900263003153910 See more in our Facebook page!

Quarterly: Byron Beachside Market – four Saturdays in Jan, Easter, July and Sept

FARMERS/WEEKLY MARKETS:

Each TUE: New Brighton Farmers Market – 8am–11am

Lismore Organic Market – 7.30am–10.30am

Each WED: Murwillumbah Farmers Market – 7am–11am

Nimbin Farmers Market – 3pm–6pm

Newrybar Hall Twilight Market – 3pm–7.30pm

Each THU: Byron Bay Farmers Market – 7am–11am

Lismore Produce Market – 3pm–6pm

Each FRI: Mullumbimby Farmers Market – 7am–11am

Evans Head Farmers Market – 2.30pm–6.30pm

Each SAT: Bangalow Farmers Market – 7am–11am

Duranbah Road Farmers Market (Tropical Fruit World) 8am–11am

Uki Farmers Market – 8am–1pm

Lismore Farmers Market – 7.30am–11.30am

Byron Twilight Market (October to April) 4pm–9pm

Each SUN: Ballina Farmers & Producers Market – 7am–11am

Happy Birthday Joni Birthday Joni

VIGILANT SINCE 1986

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

HANDYPERSONS

Alstonville joins the Lifestyle network

Lifestyle Group continues to grow its presence across the Northern Rivers, proudly welcoming a wellestablished Alstonville property management portfolio, with ‘Sold Central Rental Central’ joining its regional network.

‘Alstonville’s location is a valuable one, connecting our Ballina, Lismore and Evans Head markets, while strengthening our service to neighbouring hinterland communities,’ said David Gray, CEO and Founder of Lifestyle Group. ‘We’re excited by this move. Alstonville

has a great town centre that locals love and visitors keep coming back to. This addition helps us better connect our Northern Rivers hubs and continue building the kind of network regional NSW deserves.’

With strong demand from Sydney buyers, growing interest in the Byron hinterland, and a loyal local base, Alstonville is well-placed for continued growth and Lifestyle is now better positioned than ever to support it.

‘When we grow, it’s never just about adding dots on a map,’ Gray

added. ‘It’s about creating opportunity, backing local teams, investing in these areas, and making sure communities like Alstonville continue to prosper.’

Alstonville joins a growing list of strategic acquisitions across Nambucca Heads, Valla, Harrington, Bellingen and Halliday’s Point, reinforcing Lifestyle’s long-term vision to make a meaningful, lasting impact across regional NSW.

For more information, visit lifestylegroup.com.au.

4 Riverside Crescent, Brunswick Heads

Price: $2,650,000

Open House: Saturday 18 October 11am–11.45am

• Riverside position just meters from the tidal waters

• Amazing views across to Smokey Valley and up to Mt Chincogan

• Very solid 4-bedroom home, with three ensuites

• Front and rear verandahs, 4-car accommodation

• Previously council approved as a yoga studio

Contact Agent: Mark Cochrane 0416 142 663 markc@nclp.com.au

9 NATAN COURT, OCEAN SHORES

@taratorkkolafirstnational @taratorkkola_realestate www.byronbayfn.com.au

Open For Inspection

Ruth Russell Realty

• 148 Stuart Street Mullumbimby. Sat 11–11.45am Real Estate of Distinction

• 25 Peter Street, South Golden Beach. Sat 11–11.30am

• 11 Bian Court, Ocean Shores. Sat 12–12.30pm

• 876 Tamarind Drive, Tintenbar. Sat 1.30–2pm Mana RE

• 1/44 Helen Street, South Golden Beach. Wed 12–12.30pm

• 15 Muli Muli Avenue, Ocean Shores. Wed 4–4.30pm

• 22–24 River Street, Brushgrove. Thurs 12–12.30pm

• 2/39 Rajah Road, Ocean Shores. Thurs 3.30–4pm

• 1/44 Helen Street, South Golden Beach. Sat 9–9.30am

• 12 Natan Court, Ocean Shores. Sat 9–9.30am

• 4/19 Oceanside Place, Suffolk Park. Sat 9–9.30am

• 22 Royal Avenue, South Golden Beach. Sat 10–10.30am

• 15 Nagoon Court, Ocean Shores. Sat 10–10.30am

• 15 Kallaroo Circuit, Ocean Shores. Sat 10.30–11am

• 4 Gara Court, Ocean Shores. Sat 11–11.30am

• 15 Muli Muli Avenue, Ocean Shores. Sat 11–11.30am

• 6 Orion Street, Lismore. Sat 11am–12pm

• 17–21 The Esplanade, New Brighton. Sat 12–12.30pm

• 16 Berrimbillah Court, Ocean Shores. Sat 12–12.30pm

• 23 Matong Drive, Ocean Shores. Sat 1–1.30am

• 132 Middle Pocket Road, Middle Pocket. Sat 1–1.30pm First National Byron Bay

• 5/1 Henry Philp Avenue, Ballina. Wed 12.30–1pm

• 11 Roses Road, Federal. Thurs 10.30–11am

• 160 Reardons Lane, Swan Bay. Thurs 11–11.30am

• 1161 Bruxner Highway, Goonellabah. Thurs 12.30–1pm

• 5/7 Cooper Street, Byron Bay. Fri 10–10.30am

• 1 Warina Place, Mullumbimby. Fri 10–10.30am

• 103 Paterson Street, Byron Bay. Fri 11–11.30am

• 3/24 Scott Street, Byron Bay. Fri 1–1.30pm

byronproperty.com.au

info@byronproperty.com.au

www.echo.net.au/ofi

• 480 Left Bank Road, Mullumbimby. Fri 3–3.30pm

• 12A Coolamon Avenue, Mullumbimby. Fri 3.45–4.15pm

• 134 Dalley Street, Mullumbimby. Fri 4–4.30pm

• 9 Natan Court, Ocean Shores. Sat 9–9.30am

• 16 Short Street, Brunswick Heads. Sat 9–9.30am

• 5/7 Cooper Street, Byron Bay. Sat 9–9.30am

• 1 Warina Place, Mullumbimby. Sat 9–9.30am

• 517 Friday Hut Road, Brooklet. Sat 9.30–10am

• 18 Corkwood Crescent, Suffolk Park. Sat 9.30–10am

• 17 Ann Street, Mullumbimby. Sat 9.30–10am

• 125 Alcorn Street, Suffolk Park. Sat 9.30–10am

• 2/122 Lighthouse Road, Byron Bay. Sat 9.30–10am

• 64A Carlyle Lane, Byron Bay. Sat 10–10.30am

• 40 Booyun Street, Brunswick Heads. Sat 10–10.30am

• 21 Excelsior Circuit, Brunswick Heads. Sat 10–10.30am

• 5/1 Henry Philp Avenue, Ballina. Sat 10–10.30am

• 69 Paterson Street, Byron Bay. Sat 10.30–11am

• 247 Friday Hut Road, Tintenbar. Sat 10.30–11am

• 11 Willow Place, Mullumbimby. Sat 10.30–11am

• 38 Avocado Crescent, Ewingsdale. Sat 10.30–11am

• 56 Ruskin Lane, Byron Bay. Sat 11–11.30am

• 73 Old Bangalow Road, Byron Bay. Sat 11–11.30am

• 134 Dalley Street, Mullumbimby. Sat 11–11.30am

• 465 Uralba Road, Lynwood. Sat 11.30am–12pm

• 5 Deacon Street, Bangalow. Sat 11.30am–12pm

• 4 Seaview Street, Byron Bay. Sat 11.30am–12pm

• 1 Possum Wood Place, Mullumbimby. Sat 11.30am–12pm

• 93 Paterson Street, Byron Bay. Sat 11.30am–12pm

• 12A Coolamon Avenue, Mullumbimby. Sat 11.45am–12.15pm

• 10/47–49 Shirley Street, Byron Bay. Sat 12.30–1pm

• 12/146 Old Bangalow Road, Byron Bay. Sat 12.30–1pm

• 16 Coral Court, Byron Bay. Sat 12.30–1pm

• 480 Left Bank Road, Mullumbimby. Sat 12.30–1pm

• 1161 Bruxner Highway, Goonellabah. Sat 2–2.30pm

• 325 Riverbank Road, Pimlico. Sat 3–3.30pm

Boutique, family-owned and proudly serving Byron Bay & beyond.

Where personalised service isn’t just a promise - it’s our way of life.

JANIS PERKINS

02 6680 8588 | 0438 841 122 janis@reodbyron.com.au Shop 9/15-19 Fletcher St, Byron Bay www.reodbyron.com.au

Harcourts Northern Rivers

• 18 Linderman Street, West Ballina. Sat 9.30–10am

• 19 Leeson Avenue, Ballina. Sat 10–10.30am

• 66 Riverside Drive, West Ballina. Sat 10.15–10.45am

• 101 Riverside Drive, West Ballina. Sat 11–11.30am

• 1/10 Tanamera Drive, Alstonville. Sat 11.30am–12pm

• 1/16 Hackett Lane, Ballina. Sat 12–12.30pm

Dodds Real Estate

• 6181 Tweed Valley Way, Burringbar. Sat 10–10.30am

• 1275 Lismore Road, Clunes. Sat 11.30am–12pm

• 365 Boat Harbour Rd, Boatharbour. Sat 12.30pm–1pm

New Listings

Mana RE

• 1/44 Helen Street, South Golden Beach

• 12 Natan Court, Ocean Shores

• 1/21A Balemo Drive, Ocean Shores

• 4/19 Oceanside Place, Suffolk Park

• 4 Gara Court, Ocean Shores

• 22 Royal Avenue, South Golden Beach

• 15 Nagoon Court, Ocean Shores First National Byron Bay

• 16 Short Street, Brunswick Heads

• 11 Willow Place, Mullumbimby

• 43 McKenzie Road, Eltham

• 1 Possum Wood Place, Mullumbimby

• 51 Kennedys Lane, Ewingsdale

Property Business Directory

Backlash

Anyone with questions on cannabis can join the two Andrews, Katelaris and Kavasilas who are hosting a Patient Information Symposium on medicinal cannabis on Saturday, 18 October at Nimbin Town Hall, 11am to 4pm.

For those who think that less information on drugs, their impacts, and banning pill testing is the right way forward, think on the fact that a second person has died from ingesting a heroin-like synthetic opioid in Queensland since the Queensland Liberal National Party government banned pill testing services across the state. Not only have they banned pill testing that was free under the Labor government, but they have imposed $600,000 fines for anyone conducting pill testing – ensuring unsafe drug taking and deaths.

From Suffolk Park to the world – the local Helping Hands program changes lives, one prosthetic hand at a time. Brooke McCleary, owner of Byron Bay Massage, said as a business it was a chance to give back together. You can join Helping Hands experience for your team visit www.helpinghandsprogram.com.au or contact the team at info@helpinghandsprogram.com.au or (02) 8061 3919.

Mullum Chamber of Commerce congratulated the quick response from Byron Shire Council when they were alerted to racist graffiti painted on the main street of Mullumbimby on Tuesday morning. ‘Their quick response to such disappointing, racist graffiti

Byron Bay Lindy Exchange

was truly appreciated,’ said a chamber spokesperson. ‘Mullumbimby has long been a town where everyone from everywhere is welcome. That is the Mullumbimby spirit.’

The Matilda effect – as unbelievable as it seems today, one of the worlds most famous female scientists, Marie Curie, almost didn’t receive the Nobel Prize for physics in 1903 for her study into spontaneous radiation, initially with her husband Pierre Curie. The Nobel committee initially wanted to award the prize only to her husband. When her husband found out he then complained to the committee and demanded Marie’s name to be added to his nomination. In 1911, she won a second Nobel Prize for chemistry for her discovery of polonium and radium.

SYMPOSIUM

Photo Jeff Dawson