The Byron Shire Echo Issue 41.11 – August 26, 2026

COUNTING ON THE CENSUS FOR CHANGE The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 41 #11 • August 26, 2026 • www.echo.net.au

Call to keep Bangalow Showgrounds in community hands Aslan Shand The Bangalow Park Trust (BPT), a volunteer community group that have successfully run the Bangalow Showgrounds since at least the 1950s, say they just want to get on with managing the showgrounds and don’t want Byron Shire Council (BSC) to take over their role. The committee had been running the showgrounds as a Section 355 committee of Council, which in turn managed the site on behalf of NSW Crown Lands. Earlier this year, Council asked Crown Lands to take over management of the showgrounds so the current community committee could remain in place. Crown Lands refused. Following that refusal, Council announced in early August that it would take over management of the showgrounds itself.

Spaghetti Circus performer and coach DJ Garner is somersaulting into the Annual Show this weekend, from Friday, 28 August to Sunday, 30 August. DJ, who aims to pass on confidence, creativity, and courage from one generation to the next, says the circus is for everyone, and performers of all ages will contribute to five vibrant performances. Photo Jeff Dawson See more in Seven, page 25

Byron Bay fights for its low-rise character

Appealing Crown Lands decision

Aslan Shand Urgent questions are being raised about Byron Bay’s future as the NSW government increasingly uses fast-tracked planning pathways for State Significant Developments (SSD) and the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA). These pathways can allow major developments to bypass or vary local planning controls, including height limits, raising concerns about how Byron’s unique character, built environment, and

Murray Hand Secretary of the BPT told The Echo that they have now put in an appeal to the Minister, Stephen Kamper, to reverse the Crown Lands decision as they had been told by Council staff that the BPT could not lease or licence the showgrounds from BSC to manage them. ‘At the meeting with BSC last Monday we were told that Crown Lands had told Council in ▶ Continued on page 2

Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital under threat ▶ p2 B B B Y Y R R O O N N B A A Y Y SS E C E R R V V II C C E E SS C L L U U B B

Bangalow rallying for the Bowlo ▶ p3

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community expectations will be protected.

16m to 21m height breaches loom This comes amid a growing number of developments seeking to exceed Byron’s 11.5-metre height limit, including DAs for 109 Jonson Street, the Quiksilver site at 2 Jonson Street and the Swell Hotel as well as the 16m high DA for the old Mitre 10 site in Byron Bay at 148–158

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twice the permitted height, yet allocates only ten per cent of its homes to affordable housing – and only temporarily – while the additional height and density would be permanent.’ Speaking to The Echo former National Party MP Don Page OAM said that ‘Both proposals significantly breach the building height of 11.5 metres. They are also fundamentally at odds with the NSW Coastal Policy from the early 1990s, ▶ Continued on page 5

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Jonson Street currently going through the HDA pathway. Local community group People of Byron also raised concerns after discovering that the NSW planning minister has declared a proposed 21-metre development at 90–96 Jonson Street an SSD. Describing the decision as an ‘alarming escalation’, the group says this lacks transparency and threatens to erode Byron’s longstanding height protections. ‘The proposal for the old Woollies car park and shops is almost

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Future of the Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital under threat

Bangalow Park Trust say they are the best placed to manage showgrounds

Aslan Shand The Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital (NRWH) is calling for urgent support as ongoing underfunding threatens the region’s only purpose-built wildlife hospital at a time when local wildlife need it more than ever. NRWH is an important part of the wider network of wildlife carers, rescue organisations and veterinary services caring for native wildlife across the region. Over the last year the communityowned, not-for-profit hospital at Wollongbar has treated and cared for more than 2,000 native animals free of charge. Chair of the NRWH, Madeleine Faught, said that the underfunding of the hospital is putting the service at risk of closure. ‘Sometimes we see up to 20 animals a day from a range of species,’ she told The Echo. The warning comes as the Northern Rivers prepares for another serious threat to native wildlife, with H5N1 avian influenza (bird flu) having been detected in wild birds and at least one marine

Patients at the NRWH. Photo supplied mammal in Australia. ‘With H5N1 expected to reach our region, we have been working hard to prepare. With dedicated outdoor triage facilities, biosecurity protocols and spacious Crown land to expand our response, we are ready.’ If NRWH were to close, the region would lose important wildlife treatment capacity, purpose-built facilities and veterinary expertise that would be extremely difficult to replace. ‘As an independent notfor-profit, the hospital relies on funding and support from government, Councils, donors and the community to continue providing this care,’ Ms Faught explained.

The centre has already pared back and let go casual staff at the centre.

Can you help? ‘We are now calling on government, Councils, philanthropists, businesses, and individuals to rally behind the hospital and help secure its future. ‘If you are in a position to provide financial support, or can connect us with an individual, organisation or government body that may be able to help, we would be incredibly grateful to hear from you,’ Ms Faught said. For funding enquiries or to discuss how you can help, contact: fundraising@nrwh. com.au.

Murray Hand Secretary of the Bangalow Park Trust (BPT), Donna Jenner, President of the Bangalow Show Society, Peter Hill and Neville Malloney, President and Treasurer of BPT. Photo Jeff Dawson

▶ Continued from page 1

subsequent negotiations, after their refusal, that they could not lease or licence the entire showgrounds to the BPT. ‘They indicated that smaller groups, eg Lions, could licence or lease their building and area for them to manage,’ Mr Hand said. Responding to questions from The Echo Crown Lands said, ‘BSC will continue as the Crown land manager for the Bangalow Showgrounds reserve under a negotiated management agreement with Crown Lands.’ Crown Lands indicated that BSC would be the most appropriate and sustainable management model for the reserve at this time and that they had not provided advice that Council couldn’t lease or licence the site to the BPT. It is understood that Council as Crown land manager can lease or licence the site where it complies with relevant Crown land legislation and policy requirements.

Cost to BSC Mr Hand said that the showgrounds cost around $100,000 a year to run and this involves significant volunteer contributions from the community, and other stakeholders, who use the site including the Bangalow Show Society, the Lions Club, various horse groups such as the Pony Club, and the Poultry Club. The showgrounds are also used by the local school for kiss and ride, sports and other activities. ‘We’ve been running it at a small profit each year but that’s largely because we do a lot of the work ourselves,’ said Mr Hand. Donna Jenner, President of the Bangalow Show Society expressed significant

2 The Byron Shire Echo August 26, 2026

frustration at BSC’s intention to take over the running of the showgrounds and get rid of the existing committee telling The Echo that Council lacked the knowledge and skills to run the facility. ‘All the stakeholders in the showgrounds work really well together,’ said Ms Jenner. ‘None of the Council staff have ever even been to a show at the showgrounds. We work really well with the BPT, if there is something that needs doing we all just get in and do it. ‘The Council staff came down for a meeting and they are saying that farmers who have been driving tractors all their lives, have licences, etc, will still have to do a certificate to drive a tractor on the showgrounds. They kept saying they would get Council staff to do all the work volunteers have done and not only will that entail delays to getting things done the cost to Council will be significant.’ The Bangalow Show Society will be holding their 125th show this year but are uncertain about the future. ‘BSC is creating uncertainty for Show Society as they told us the show will go ahead as planned this year but next year things will be different. However, they were unable to clarify what would be different.’

No budget Mr Hand said the BPT had asked Council if they had a budget to run the showgrounds or a plan of management but they were told that they had neither. ‘They told us five years ago that they were going to organise a plan of management, they haven’t even

made the first keystroke as far as we know,’ said Mr Hand.

BSC management BSC have told The Echo that many aspects of the showgrounds will remain the same under their management and that ‘the Bangalow Show, the Lions Club, the Pony Club and the many groups who use the grounds and halls will keep their access. Bookings for the Old Scout Hall and Moller Pavilion will move to Council’s halls team, which already handles bookings for the neighbouring Bangalow A&I Hall. ‘This will be a big change for committee members and volunteers. Some families have been involved with the showgrounds since the 1890s and the buildings carry their names,’ Esmeralda Davis, Director Corporate and Community Services, said. ‘Council understands that the community committee intends to ask the Minister to review the Crown Lands’ decision and there is time for that to happen. While that is being pursued Council will continue to work with the committee to put in place arrangements in case the review is not successful. ‘The showgrounds are what they are because of the community committee and volunteers, and we’re very grateful for the generations of effort and love put into the showgrounds,’ she said. ‘Council has said they have written to user groups and will keep working with them and is offering key user groups opportunities to discuss their needs and the best way for them to continue using the showgrounds in the future.’

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Bangalow community rallying for the Bowlo Aslan Shand A major town rally for Bangalow is planned for Saturday, 19 September at 2pm as the next phase of action to have the Bowlo reopened and back in community hands. ‘The Save the Bowlo Town Rally follows the closure of the formal expression of interest (EOI ) process for the Bangalow Bowlo, with no outcome publicly announced and the future of the community and sporting club still unresolved,’ said a spokesperson for the Save Bangalow Bowlo Committee (SBBC). The Bowlo was closed by Norths Collective in October 2025, just over two years after Norths took control following the 2022 amalgamation.

Legal challenge The SBBC are seeking financial and building-related documents from Norths, and legal representatives, acting for former members, are pursuing avenues relating to the Amalgamation Agreement and the conduct surrounding the operation and closure of the Bowlo. The SBBC says the legal campaign is not about litigation for its own sake. ‘The end game hasn’t changed. We want our Bowlo back,’ they told The Echo. ‘We want to properly examine whether Norths has honoured the commitments www.echo.net.au

it made to the Bangalow community. If the evidence shows those commitments have not been met, we want Norths held to its obligations and ultimately to create a fair pathway back to community ownership. ‘Legal action does not necessarily need to end in a lengthy court battle. If this process can help create the conditions for a fair and achievable agreement with Norths, that would be a meaningful outcome.’

Membership denied A member of Norths and the former Bangalow Bowlo, Sue Franklin, said that when she tried to renew her membership at North’s Seagulls club in Tweed last week her application was refused. ‘I went to Seagulls in Tweed to renew my membership and I was told, “you are not allowed to renew your membership and if you live in Bangalow you’re not allowed to join Norths Collective”,’ she told The Echo. ‘I asked the receptionist to put it in writing and she responded, “I’m not going to put it in writing but the directive was sent to staff from head office yesterday [20 August, 2026]”.’ The Echo once again emailed Norths but received no response. A phone call to Norths Collective general

enquiries revealed that anyone from NSW could join Norths Collective and there was no requirement to be in a particular distance of a Norths club. However, in a subsequent call to Seagulls The Echo was told that people from Bangalow and Byron were unable to join. Further attempts to renew exiting memberships online have also been declined by Norths.

Heritage listing Byron Shire councillors also tried once again to seek heritage listing for the Bangalow Bowlo site at last Thursday’s council meeting. The urgency motion recognised the ‘unique role as a social and cultural hub played by the Bangalow Bowlo was not sufficiently addressed in the previous heritage report.’ It also noted the essential historical role that the Bowlo played as a regional and national centre for live music, including the evidence outlined in Musicland by Tricia Shantz, that includes helping launch the careers of Michael Hutchence, Peter Garrett, Cold Chisel and others. It also highlighted Bangalow Bowlos role in the introduction of the ‘Tifdwarf’ grass variety in the 1970s that revolutionised bowling greens in the sub-tropics.

Join the rally Since the closure of the Bangalow Bowlo, the possible pathways for the club to be returned to the community have included: de-amalgamation, community ownership proposals, and the recently concluded EOI process. The SBBC says negotiation remains possible and legal action and negotiation are not mutually exclusive. ‘Norths can still choose to negotiate. We remain committed to an outcome that recognises the commitments made to members and the wider Bangalow community and provides a sustainable pathway back to local ownership,’ said SBBC. The rally will be a fun afternoon that will inform the community of the ongoing negotiations with Norths. The afternoon will feature guest speakers, live music from Evan & Dion, Dynamite George & The Detonators, Susie Salvatori and DJ Sally Sound, along with sporting club activities, a monster raffle, bar, BBQ, food vans and family activities. It is also aiming to help raise funds to save the Bowlo. You can donate at: gofund.me/ad3cde7f6. For more information email: savebangalowbowlo@gmail. com or go to their social media pages.

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Another $1.6m for Clarkes Beach

Love for One Night opens Thursday

Sandbags being prepared for Clarkes Beach erosion works. Photo Aslan Shand Paul Bibby

NORPA’s Love for One Night rehearsals at The Joinery ahead of its opening at the Eltham Hotel on Thursday night for a strictly limited, nearly sold-out, season from 27 August to 12 September. From an iconic country pub in a town of just 332 people, world-class theatre will erupt with dialogue, movement, music, live camera projections and a three-piece band. Photo Jeff Dawson

Protecting forests – no perfect solution Jan Barham Voltaire’s aphorism, ‘perfect is the enemy of good’ is quoted often in politics and mostly directed at the Greens. The current challenge is the delivery framework for the Greater Koala National Park (GKNP). The NSW ALP promise is now contingent on its proposal to the federal government for the protection of state forests under the Improved Forest Management Method (INFM) using Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCU). It appears abhorrent, to ignore the moral responsibility to protect nature for its intrinsic values and instead allow polluters to buy their way out. However, the INFM presents an incentive to end

the logging of Crown forests, our forests. It presents a no excuses scenario for the ALP. It would also deliver Indigenous jobs and management and urgent environmental repair. But, the National Party has proposed a disallowance of the INFM in the federal parliament, and if supported, it’s gone and a worse proposal designed by the forest industry is possible with Coalition and One Nation support. The Greens are confronted with a voting dilemma. I was initially outraged and opposed the INFM, but then I researched and sought advice from people I trust, those who have devoted decades to protecting nature. Since the 1979 Terania Rainforest campaign the ongoing work of North East

Forest Alliance (NEFA), local campaigners and scientists, including the Conservation Ecologist Association (CEA) has been relentless. They support the INFM. Also in support is the GKNP Aboriginal Advisory Panel. Professor David Lindenmayer, forest scientist and law Professor Andrew Macintosh, who exposed the rorts of offsets, are supporters. The INFM defines 100-year forest protection, and has no offsetting for coal and gas, stringent monitoring and reporting, and funding. It was 30 years ago when ALP Opposition leader Bob Carr promised Greens candidate Ian Cohen an end to oldgrowth logging. To achieve that outcome, the NSW Environmental Trust Fund was raided for $60

million to buy out industry and establish the protected areas. Ending native forest logging should’ve followed but didn’t. Protecting precious forests and biodiversity is a priority and time is running out. The INFM could deliver the end of state native forest logging and deliver more parks, including the Richmond River Koala Parks and the Greater Southern Forest NP. With no perfect outcome on offer, I support the INFM. If you feel passionate about this issue, contact Greens leader, Larissa Waters. For more info https:// www.nefa.org.au. ■ Jan Barham is the former

Greens mayor of Byron Shire Council and former Greens NSW MLC.

Six years after government agencies were talking about ‘future retreat’ from an eroding Clarkes Beach, another $1.6 million is being spent trying to hold the line. The NSW government has begun a new round of coastal protection works at the iconic Byron beach following high tides and ocean swell which have again chewed into the dunes, damaged access and forced Reflections Byron Bay Holiday Park to relocate some assets. Crown Lands has provided Reflections with $1.275 million for coastal protection and maintenance, with around 600 sandbags being installed across a 72-metre stretch in front of the holiday park. A further $395,000 has been allocated for sand nourishment works expected next year. Crown Lands Executive Director Greg Sullivan said the investment would address ‘immediate safety risks and access issues’ while protecting Crown land assets and culturally sensitive areas. But the latest works revive a much older question about how long governments can keep defending infrastructure on one of Byron’s most mobile stretches of coastline.

In 2020, severe erosion stripped tonnes of sand from Clarkes and brought the dune line within metres of Beach Byron Bay restaurant. The state responded with emergency sandbags, but Council documents reported by The Echo at the time said those works were temporary and that the restaurant operator had been directed to prepare for ‘future retreat’. Reflections had also installed its own sandbag wall near the holiday park, prompting debate about whether hard protection works could worsen erosion further along the beach. Crown Lands says coastal conditions have since taken their toll on both the 2020 sandbag wall and areas without protection. Reflections CEO Nick Baker said the funding was ‘very welcome news’, with staff monitoring the erosion and working to keep guests and beachgoers safe. The immediate aim is clear enough: stop more of Clarkes Beach disappearing beneath the holiday park. The longer-term question remains considerably less settled: how many more times will governments pay to defend this piece of coastline before retreat again becomes part of the conversation?

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Byron Bay fights for its low-rise character ▶ Continued from page 1

this planning framework recognises the importance of building scale and height to protect the aesthetic qualities of the coastal environment. Our local community and I fought very hard to ensure low-rise only development in Byron to protect our village feel and give us a point of difference from the high-rise Gold Coast.’ ‘The 148–158 Jonson Street proposal is also seeking a concurrent rezoning of the land. If approved, this would set a precedent for other developments in terms of building heights and what is permissible on certain types of land.’ Responding to questions from The Echo in relation to the 148–158 Jonson Street proposal Mr Dunn, of JD Property Group (who are also the developer of Jonson Lane and the Secret Garden developments that both have gained height exceedances) said, ‘We looked at the existing approval over the site which is for a supermarket and two-storey car park but felt there was an opportunity for much-needed housing in our town centre instead. The 20 affordable housing

apartments are a part of this.’ ‘While every site is different, this site is unique, with its long and thin shape abutting the rail corridor and then bushland on the edge of town, and neighbours on one side only. The proposed height is a response to three things – the unique town centre site, housing provision, and the state government guidelines,’ he said. Don Page highlighted that the Mitre 10 site is currently at the Prepare Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) stage. ‘The merits of the proposal are yet to be assessed by the state. Byron Shire Council (BSC) and community members will have an opportunity to make submissions to the state when the EIS is exhibited,’ he told The Echo. ‘There are many issues to address, including building height, traffic, parking, flooding, environmental impacts, acid sulphate soils, and bushfire risk. I urge everyone who values Byron’s low-rise character to make their concerns known to the state during the EIS exhibition period. ‘It might also be a good idea for the mayor and Council’s senior planner to go to Sydney and meet with

Planning Minister Scully during the exhibition period to explain the community’s concerns.’ At last Thursday’s Council meeting councillors requested a report outlining the implications of the HAD and SSD pathways raising concerns that the state government is overriding the LEP, and options for Council to formally respond or seek exemptions.

Pause and review People of Byron says that BSC has developed planning frameworks over decades that balance growth with the protection of its village character and built environment. ‘We’ve written to the planning minister asking to pause and review SSD declarations in Byron Bay, and create a Distinctive Character Settlement planning category for towns where protecting landscape, heritage, and village character is a primary planning objective,’ they told The Echo. People of Byron have ‘also asked for a Cumulative Impact Assessment to be undertaken before the SSD progress through the fasttrack pathways.’

Mandy Nolan, who is running for the seat of Ballina for the Greens agrees saying, ‘We need to protect what’s special about this place, and those decisions belong in the hands of our community and our locally-elected, locallyaccountable Council. Not in a minister’s office in Sydney. ‘Our community knows what well-designed, welllocated housing looks like – local masterplans, height limits, and environmental plans exist for a reason. We don’t want McDonalds, and we don’t want our coastal villages to look like the Gold Coast. ‘It’s important that decisions about us are made by us, not with planning tools designed for Sydney high-rises. These laws benefit dodgy developers, not community – developers who know how to lobby a minister to get a bad DA approved. The only thing we want to see breaching here is whales. Not buildings.’ ■ Further information:

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August 26, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 5

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Mullum CWA celebrates 100 years Tallowood dirt pile to become permanent? Paul Bibby

June Leroy CWA patron, Mayor Sarah Ndiaye, Jenny Barlow CWA Secretary, and Treasurer Sylvania Smith, with Mullum and Far North Coast CWA President Sue Constable seated at the front. Photo Jeff ‘Can’t Work Anymore’ Dawson Aslan Shand The Mullumbimby Country Women’s Association (CWA) has played a pivotal role in the local community for the last 100 years. Formed in 1926 with 30 members, it hit a high of 119 members in the late 1940s as it fundraised and built the current CWA rooms on the corner of Gordon and Tincogan streets. Whether in a room in a store in Burringbar Street or their own CWA building, they have met regularly on the second Wednesday of the

month and provided a baby health care centre, catered to the town’s weddings and events, and fundraised for commuity initiatives including the Mullumbimby Swimming Pool, the Agricultural Show, and to help expectant mothers. At times in the past ‘CWA members provided rooms in their homes for expectant mothers to use during floods,’ explained CWA spokesperson, Diane Giddins. Their rooms have been used to hire prams, provide a rest place for mothers and

children, even as an emergency department! They have provided prizes for Mullumbimby High School’s speech days, had active choirs, an arts and crafts group that still meets today, and the Monday painters group that still gets out their paintbrushes weekly. Following the 2022 floods the Mullumbimby CWA provided $25,000 in assistance to those in need and Council also took over the space as a Recovery Hub. Get in contact with the Mullumbimby CWA at: cwamullum@gmail.com.

Data centres for the Northern Rivers? What regulations are there to stop or manage data centres in the Northern Rivers? There’s already 160 data centres in Australia with 90 more in the pipeline. Big Tech is locking up land, sucking up water and drawing down enormous amounts of energy from Sydney to Melbourne and across regional Australia – with almost no regulations to manage where, how and why data centres are being built.

We need a voice ‘Right now, there’d be nothing our community could do about it,’ says Mandy Nolan who is MCing a Politics in the Pub with Senator David Shoebridge, and Australian Greens spokesperson for Digital Rights and Justice and GetUp! campaigner on data centres Jacob Miller at the Top Pub in Mullumbimby on Friday, 28 August from 7pm. ‘AI is reshaping our world

at a pace few of us chose and fewer still control,’ said Mandy. ‘Big Tech lobbyists have hall passes to parliament, where decisions about our data, our privacy and our digital future are being made behind closed doors. The rules for this boom shouldn’t be written by the companies building it. People and community deserve a say in the digital future being built around them.’

A temporary mountain of dirt containing around 8,000 cubic metres of material at Mullumbimby’s Tallowood Ridge Estate could become a permanent feature of the landscape under a new application lodged with Byron Shire Council (BSC). Developer Bayview Land Development is seeking to modify the approval for the ninth and final stage of Tallowood so that stripping and excess excavation material, previously approved for temporary stockpiling, can remain permanently on the site. But ‘permanent’ may not necessarily mean forever. The developer says the material is ‘likely’ to

eventually be used as fill on nearby Lot 32 on Tuckeroo Avenue, if a current proposal to rezone that land is successful. The existing stockpile of material is typically around five metres high. Under the modification, it would be reshaped and lowered to a maximum height of 2.5 metres, requiring it to spread further south across the site. Plans indicate about 3,500 cubic metres of the existing mound would effectively be cut and redistributed to achieve the new profile. The stockpile would then be topsoiled and grassed. Part of the expanded footprint would extend 20 to 30 metres beyond the mapped one-in-100-year flood level.

Bayview’s consultant, CivilTech Consulting Engineers, says only 54 cubic metres of the stockpile would fall below that level. To ensure there was no loss of floodplain storage, an equivalent amount of soil would be excavated elsewhere below the flood level and added to the mound. CivilTech says the changes would have ‘no negative impact on nearby residents’ and would not alter the Stage 9 development or identified native vegetation. The latest application says construction of Stage 9 is nearing completion. Council is yet to determine the modification. ■ Read full story in The Echo online: www.echo.net.au.

Remembering our Vietnam veterans Lance Corporal Richard Parker from the Mullumbimby – Brunswick Heads area, and Private Peter Gillson, were left on the battlefield in 1965 at the Battle of Nui Gang Toi. They were both remembered, along with 60,000 Australians who served during the Vietnam War between 1962 and 1975 on 18 August at the Mullumbimby Cenotaph.

Challenging return ‘For many Vietnam veterans, the years after the war, which was highly controversial, were marked by a struggle for recognition and understanding,’ said Mr Thurgar, who had been the Senior Investigator for Unrecovered War Casualties. Mr Thurgar said that in collaboration with Operation Aussies Home they had been successful in pressuring government to support locating and bringing home all six people missing in action in

On August 18 at 11am services were held all around Australia to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the Battle of Long Khanh and Operation Overlord. 60,000 Australians served in Vietnam. Many did not come home. Photo Jeff Dawson Vietnam with the help and cooperation of the government and people of Vietnam.

The cost of war ‘This special day for veterans of the war in Vietnam, provides an opportunity to remember all who served, suffered, or died. I ask you to remember also the family

members and loved ones who have had to live with either the loss of a loved one or live with and continue to bear witness to those of us still living with the everlasting effects of their service in that war and all others that have sadly followed,’ said Mr Thurgar. ‘Lest we forget.’

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Queer Family Director Aiden Gentle with Councillor Elia Hauge outside the Queer Family’s new home in Byron. Photo Jeff ‘Not The Only Gay In The Village’ Dawson Paul Bibby After four years of bouncing between temporary spaces, storage units, and uncertainty, Queer Family Inc finally has somewhere to put down its bags, at least for the next 12 months. Byron councillors voted on Thursday, 20 August to grant the Northern Rivers LGBTQIA+ support organisation a 12-month lease over the former Station Master’s Cottage at 80 Jonson Street, Byron Bay, bringing a longrunning search for a home to a temporary conclusion. Queer Family Director Aiden Gentle said the decision was ‘really exciting’, and would effectively keep the struggling organisation alive. ‘What Council have been able to put through is quite a good arrangement for us that actually keeps us going and stops us from folding,’ Aiden said. ‘At this stage all of our belongings are in a storage unit, so we don’t actually even have an office anymore.’ The decision follows months of debate over how Council should allocate the cottage, including concerns

about governance, fairness, and whether one organisation should receive direct access to a public asset. Public consultation on the proposal drew 88 submissions, with 84 supporting Queer Family’s use of the site and four objecting. Most of the objections nevertheless expressed support for the organisation itself, while questioning the process or location.

Peppercorn rent The cottage will be provided on a peppercorn arrangement, with Council also backing financial assistance covering rent and fixed charges. For Aiden, the site’s central Byron location opens up possibilities beyond simply having an office. They said Queer Family hoped to use the cottage for creative programs, artist residencies and collaborations with queer professionals, potentially including therapeutic services. ‘There’s a real lack of space for creatives in the region, especially Byron because of the expense,’ Aiden said.

‘Being able to support queer artists or creatives is really exciting, to be able to have a space like that in the centre of town.’ But Aiden stressed that Thursday’s decision was not the end of the story. ‘It is only 12 months… so it still leaves us in a bit of a difficult situation with our long-term security,’ they said. ‘Being a homeless organisation is the same as being a homeless person in terms of, you know, it’s a full-time job just being homeless.’ Queer Family has effectively been without a stable home since losing its premises in the 2022 floods. Previous options have included temporary use of a farmhouse in Mullumbimby and a possible long-term site at the former Mullumbimby sewage treatment plant, but neither delivered lasting security. Aiden said the organisation was still working with Council and other stakeholders on a permanent solution. For now, though, the cottage represents something Queer Family has not had for some time: a front door of its own.

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North Coast news online

Labor and Liberals join forces

The Byron Shire Echo

Volume 41 #11 • August 26, 2026

Drug-checking saves lives

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o-one would tolerate killing six teenagers with methanol-laced alcohol in Australia, as occurred recently in Laos. But in Australia, you can’t check your drugs to see if they’re safe. In 2015 during the UK government’s House of Commons Home Affairs Committee five-year investigation into drug use, it was made clear that combining deadly drugs such as nitazenes and fentanyl with commonlyused drugs (like cocaine, MDMA, and heroin) led to the death of users. One of the vital aspects of ensuring people could detect a potentially lethal combination, prior to taking it, was giving them the opportunity to test their drugs. In 2024 Queensland introduced festival drug-testing for the first time, and opened two fixed-address drug testing units located in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. All three drug-testing facilities were well used, with people of all ages testing drugs before determining if they were going to take them. The new Liberal National government closed them down in 2025 with Queensland’s Deputy Premier, Jarrod Bleijie, saying at the time, ‘We do not tolerate it. We will not allow it, and we will legislate or regulate against those private providers.’ The death rate from drug use is ‘nearly double that of road traffic deaths, with overdoses from opioids, stimulants and benzodiazepines leading that tragic tally,’ Dr Will Tregoning, CEO of Unharm has pointed out in the lead up to International Overdose Awareness Day on 31 August.

NSW conducted successful pill-testing trials across 12 NSW festivals last summer. ‘While there were no sites in Northern NSW during the trial, the initial evidence it produced was clear, and it echoed what advocates, researchers, and grieving families have been saying for years – drug checking works,’ said Dr Tregoning. An analysis of MDMA-related deaths found that 73 per cent occurred in private residences and just seven per cent at festivals or dance parties. ‘A snapshot of the Penington Institute’s 2026 Annual Overdose Report shows that overdose deaths in Australia reached 2,596 in 2024 – the highest on record, and a 10.7 per cent jump in a single year. More than four in five of those drug-induced deaths were unintentional,’ said Dr Tregoning. NSW Health commissioned an independent review of 67 studies from around the world. The review found clear evidence that drug-checking services change behaviour, they strengthen market surveillance, and they reach people who wouldn’t normally interact with a health service about their drug use. ‘The need for these services is well established and widely supported. 64 per cent of Australians supported drug checking according to the 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey,’ Dr Tregoning said. It is time for the NSW government to step up and save lives. It is simple, let people test their drugs before they use them. Aslan Shand, editor News tips are welcome: editor@echo.net.au

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ast week, government and opposition found themselves singing from the same song sheet in parliament on a range of issues, from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to ASIO, and Big Tech to gambling advertising. On the NDIS, Labor and Liberal chose to ignore a chorus of voices urging them to reconsider drastic cuts, including the voices of disabled people themselves, as they rushed through the government’s NDIS changes. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor’s main concern was to bundle in a completely unrelated provision, on so-called ‘widows tax’, which relates to inheritance/compensation arrangements affected by the government’s recent CGT changes, something Labor was planning to fix anyway. While Coalition amendments gave some extra protection to disabled people with very high support needs, and demanded heavier punishments for those defrauding the scheme, none of the government’s key NDIS reforms were affected, including measures to drastically reduce the number of NDIS participants, greater use of automated algorithms to make decisions instead of humans (Robodebt, anyone?), and much tighter eligibility requirements.

Secret powers Despite the objections of Greens and some crossbenchers, amendments to the laws governing ASIO also sailed through the Senate last week with the support of Labor, the Coalition, and One Nation. Grounds for compulsory questioning, intended as temporary and ‘extraordinary’ powers, have now been solidified and expanded with warrants covering such vaguely defined areas as espionage, politically motivated violence and foreign interference. The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights noted that this legislation potentially affects Australian rights to privacy, liberty, freedom of movement, fair trial, and freedom of expression. There’s also the potential for protesters of various kinds to be caught up in the new security umbrella. While the ASIO debate was severely curtailed by the big parties’ use of the ‘guillotine’, the Coalition did at least restore a sunset clause on the new legislation, the kind of thing old Labor

‘Amendments to the laws governing ASIO sailed through the Senate last week with the support of Labor, the Coalition, and One Nation.’ – David Lowe would have demanded. Two Liberal senators, Alex Antic and Andrew McLachlan, spoke strongly against the entire bill, before being squashed by the combined numbers against them. As Alex Antic put it, ‘Extraordinary powers should never become ordinary.’

Murder most foul Speaking of extraordinary powers, Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, has not been expelled by the Australian government, despite his country’s refusal to properly investigate the murder in Gaza of Australian aid-worker Zomi Frankcom, let alone apologise. As human rights lawyer and war crimes expert Geoffrey Robertson has pointed out, despite Israel’s claims, there’s no evidence that any court has been involved in the country’s belated decision to find ‘no criminal liability’ on the part of their armed forces, who targeted and destroyed a clearly marked humanitarian aid convoy which was travelling on a route that had been communicated to them, in April 2024. Key evidence, including video and audio of the incident, has been denied to Australian investigators. Labor’s response thus far has amounted to no more than a few strong words. Key opposition figures, including Angus Taylor, were entirely silent on this matter last week.

Media law On big tech and media law changes, the government sought once again to find common ground with its supposed class enemies on the opposition benches, rather than deal with the Greens or crossbenchers. Both big parties agreed on the basic principle that Big Tech has too much bargaining power over Australian journalism, at least in terms of the major players, and is going to have to pay something for that, while rejecting Greens/teal amendments that might

have protected smaller, independent publishers, such as The Echo.

Gambling On gambling advertising, even those on the Labor side who wanted the government to go further were ignored last week in favour of a deal with the opposition. There will be no total ban on gambling advertising across television and other platforms, as the inquiry led by the Labor MP Peta Murphy said there should be, nor a complete ban on gambling inducements, despite the spectacular publicity of the gaming industry’s track record in this area recently. Once again, the only people showing any real courage on the issue were on the Coalition side, with Liberal Andrew Wallace and Nationals MP Pat Conaghan crossing the floor to vote against the legislation, and other opposition figures making it slightly stronger, while stopping short of what their previous leader Peter Dutton proposed a few years ago. Pat Conaghan co-chaired the comprehensive earlier gambling harm inquiry with Peta Murphy, and said last week’s final deal discarded too many of that inquiry’s 32 recommendations, relied on gambling companies to police themselves, and would fail to break the stranglehold of gambling on Australian sport. He described the final legislative result as a ‘marginal improvement’. Andrew Wallace said a crucial opportunity to usher in meaningful change had been squandered. As for Labor, its supporters made their usual pathetic excuse: something is better than nothing. Is that really all that this government with its massive majority can aspire to? ■ David Lowe is an award-winning

filmmaker, writer and photographer. You can catch his weekly politics column every Monday in The Echo online: www.echo.net.au.

The Byron Shire Echo

Volume 41 #11 August 26, 2026

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Letters to the Editor www.echo.net.au/letters A recent Four Corners program provided a harrowing insight into new state planning legislation made in consultation with developers. The program exposed State Significant Development (SSD), ‘affordable housing’, and greedy developers. We should all be gravely concerned, as a number of SSDs have been proposed for our small town, including the former Mitre-10 site in Byron Bay. Regardless of where people stand on individual projects, there is a fundamental issue we should all be paying attention to: the erosion of local decisionmaking and our unique village character. For decades, our community has invested time, energy, and passion into shaping planning rules that protect Byron’s unique character, environmental values, and village lifestyle. Our building height restrictions bear testimony to this. Under the SSD process, planning decisions bypass local councils and communities and go to state government agencies. Projects that do not align with local planning controls, height limits, or community expectations, proceed if they are deemed to have ‘state significance’. What is state significance? Delivering ‘affordable housing’. What is affordable housing? Property that is valued to rent at 20 per cent less than the market value. The cumulative impact of multiple large-scale developments will fundamentally change the unique village character of Byron Bay, increasing pressure on sewerage, traffic, infrastructure, water resources, the environment, and ironically, affordable housing. Why will 1.9 million visitors continue to visit? SSDs are permanent. If we remain silent now, we may wake up in a few years to discover that the Byron Bay we love no longer exists. Write letters to our Byron Shire councillors, ministers,

These buildings have been designed so that the perception is that it does not exceed the height limit! Cartoon by Ziggi Browning / Firefly AI sign our change.org petition, subscribe to People of Byron newsletter. Don’t be silent. Your voice matters. Maxine Hawker Byron Bay

When will the madness stop? I attended the Byron Council meeting last week where I was astounded to listen to Jason Dunn, Byron property developer and (oh yes, as he has previously mentioned) old boy of Saint Finbarrs Primary School, Byron Bay, deliver his option of using our public road reserve to locate, you guessed it, his car park. Turns out, Jason has worked out the maths and discovered building a two-storey underground car park to service his proposed massive development on the old Byron Mitre-10, Wicked Weasel, and Byron Bay Tyre Repair site will be terribly costly. It is a much better prospect for Mr Dunn to just build a one-storey underground car park and site the other storey on the public road reserve beside the development, that way, future residents of his development can park their cars there, use our public land to do so, and ‘everyone’, read Jason and his fellow developers of this project, will be happy. Mr Dunn informed us at the Council meeting that he is in ‘productive discussions’ (whatever that means) with Council regarding this development. How many of our public assets is Byron Shire Council potentially willing

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to hand over to developers so that these developers can save money? Let’s not forget, Mr Dunn is the developer of the much-criticised ‘Welcome to Byron’ Jonson Lane concrete monolith and the ironically-named ‘Secret Garden’ (no secret and no garden) development also on Jonson Street. It seems this Council supports the taking of public car parks, for example 57 Station Street Mullumbimby, for development, but wants to also give a public asset (our road reserve) to a developer. What is really going on behind closed doors at Byron Council? On this developer’s own page 148-158jonsonstreet.com.au it states, ‘there is an existing DA approval on this site for a supermarket, office space, and multi-storey car park, however approval is not being progressed. It was determined that relocating cars underground and using the area primarily for housing provided a better outcome.’ Apparently, the proposal has been declared State Significant Development (SSD) by the Minister for Planning ‘…that the proposal will contribute to well-located housing supply and deliver, (wait for it ) ‘affordable’ housing’!

This is exactly the same affordable housing claim Mr Dunn made regarding his Johnson Lane development. Mr Dunn‘s grand plan of using our public road reserve and effectively privatising it for his own development, if successful, is a master stroke, reminiscent of the worst excesses of the development industry (at the height of its powers) in much maligned Queensland. Watch for this DA to be advertised to make a submission, or you can apparently make contact with the developer to discuss your concerns etc by going to 148-158jonsonstreet.com.au. Good luck with that. Bronwyn Morris Montecollum

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Letters to the Editor www.echo.net.au/letters Monster rich For a while we visited Northern Rivers until one year we felt and saw the changes. The rich elsewhere got a sniff of its peaceful energies, moved in, built monster houses, and oozed values grounded in acquisition and elitism. We took flight, sensing the end of the beautiful community spirit we treasured. We’ve not returned in case our prejudice proves accurate! So, on reading Mandy’s article, yes absolutely. Absolutely. Earlier I’d read the talk given by Kerry O’Brien and out of nowhere started weeping. The grief felt, but suppressed for decades, about the continuous abuses upon us and all nations by neoliberal ideologies. Endless lies unravel public spirit. Corporate greed manipulating our government policies is harmful, disengaging, cruel, self-serving, alienating, and divisive. Deliberately so. Kerry asks us not to give up, and by that I took him to mean our sovereign integrity, and glorious cultural brilliance deserve encouragement not abandonment. Not to give up our national anthem of a fair go for all.

When young we lived in hope, joy, freedom, and buoyancy of the cooperative, considered intelligent and compassionate policies in the Whitlam and Dunstan era. We know what’s possible. We know what national hope and inspiration feels like. We want all that to rise quickly and reassert itself into our national psyche. We’re now asked to change ourselves to create governments reflecting care and respect of all citizens. Thank you Kerry and Mandy for knowing and caring enough to reach out and opine. Marguerite Hann-Syme Adelaide

Swain on Station St A recent morning at Ocean Shores Shopping Centre, a lovely lady by the name of Janet Swain was holding an impromptu ‘Talk to a Councillor’ meeting. She had her billboard and offered tea and bickies. She spent half an hour talking to one greyhaired lady until it was time for me to go. I had to leave. I thought it was a good thing to see that a councillor had the courage to come out and speak to anyone who wanted to speak to her as one of our elected councillors. As I went past, I

congratulated her on her effort. She thanked me and I asked her if she was voting for the 57 Station Street development or not. She said yes, she was voting for it. I said, ‘Oh, a bad decision.’ She said, ‘Well, a lot of people who talk to me are living in their cars, and if we don’t do anything with this, it’ll be another ten years.’ These two reasons she gave ignore 1,500 submissions from people who have actively submitted written opposition, and instead to listen to a few people who talk to her, are: 1. A number of people were living in their cars. If she had read the DA, she would know that those people living in cars are not going to be helped by this development. Even without a Community Housing representative appointed to manage the development, we know that it has major restraints that will prevent those truly in need from being eligible. I question the simplicity of her response. Did she actually think it through? Anyone who is living in a car most likely does not have the money required to pay even a minimal rent on the already very small apartments.

North Coast news online 2. If we don’t do it, we won’t have it for another ten years. Unfortunately, this has been a repetitive story we have heard from councillors, put around, I believe, by the ex-mayor who sold our car park for $1 to Landcom. It doesn’t make sense to me in any form. It’s really just saying that, yes, it’s really bad, yes, there are lots of problems, yes, it’s not going to affect affordable housing, and yes, we lose a car park and a toilet block, but we should do it because it’ll take too long to do something else. How does that make the Station Street development a viable idea? All they’re really saying is that it has taken so long because of our incompetence. Therefore, because of our incompetence, we should say, okay, let’s ignore all the proven faults in its design and the huge opposition, and don’t fix our incompetence. Just plough on. I’m sorry, Janet Swain. You are the councillor that I saw today, and it saddens me deeply that we can put in so much effort and input, so many thought-out opposition submissions when you just say, ‘Oh, well, the people I talk to.’ It doesn’t make

sense to me. Come on. Please tell me why a councillor can act in direct opposition to the largest protest Mullumbimby has ever mounted? It’s the system. A system that allows relative anonymity for the councillors, who can pretend to care, then vote the opposite for their own unthought-out rationale. Sorry, but it’s time for a change. So what reason could there be against all of these councillors declaring their voting preferences now? The only councillor I managed to talk to has already declared hers, so I can reasonably expect other councillors may have already chosen how they will vote. It does not look good for the system’s practicality when votes are already decided without even examining the submissions. Ian Blair Hamilton Myocum

Lower the age It was pleasing to see smart young people around the county coming out recently to protest idiotic political leaders and their policies. Young people are paying attention and care about the future and the sooner they lower the voting age the better.

We have a system that’s been sold out to mining companies, tech companies, gambling companies and sees us increasingly becoming puppets of the US military machine. I’m not surprised many young people are anxious. Rod Murray Ocean Shores

Local Land Services Are people aware that NSW is the only state to tax farmers for Local Land Services? Other states must supply these services from other resources. In NSW, only landholdings over 10ha are taxed, unless one is a cane farmer because they are exempt (an exemption that dates back to Country Party days!). I have lived on my small holding for 20+ years, and have never been offered a service! Why are we paying this tax? I feel it is time to make this an election issue for the next state election. My feeling is that the majority of the tax collected goes in inefficient paperwork costs actually collecting this tax! Time for it to go, particularly as we are heading towards another El Nino event and monies will be tight for farmers. Doug Foskey Tregeagle

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Big Council rates rise coming ■ I can remember maybe

five years ago when Byron Shire Council implemented a ‘one-off rates increase’ (probably not the exact words but that was certainly my understanding) to help fund something or other. Naively I thought that meant that the rates would increase for a year and then go back to normal. In my mind that’s what ‘one-off’ meant. Sadly, I was mistaken and rates actually increased from that ‘one-off rates increase’ to the point where I’m now wondering how long I can afford to keep my house. In the last ten years my rates have gone from a bit under $2,100 a year to almost $4,000 a year. I wonder how much peoples’ wages have gone up in that time? Now Council is proposing a ‘Special Rate Variation (SRV)’ of about 35 per cent over three years. That would take my $4,000 per year and make it more like $5,400 per year. Something’s gotta give. Anthony Dwyer Ocean Shores ■ A chance for self-reflection?

Maybe Byron Shire Council should look at having a staff reduction, instead of a rate rise? Graham Porter Mullumbimby ■ The proposed 35.03 per

cent rates increase over three years to Byron Shire ratepayers is extremely concerning. I fully understand the need to raise money to maintain the essential services and assets of the Shire to ensure the quality of daily life of both

residents and tourists. I also feel much of the use, wear and tear of such is due to our small towns suffering from the impact of tourism here (between 1.5 to 2 million people per annum, of which half are estimated to be staying in paid accommodation). I believe the issue of applying a ‘bed tax/accommodation tax’ rests in the hands of our state government and I cannot understand its past reluctance to embrace this fair method of maintaining tourist destinations. A very reasonable one to five dollar per night ‘fee’ added to their accommodation accounts would be such a small amount per tourist but would bring in millions of dollars to local councils to provide services and facilities to them – whilst not penalising and expecting residents to subsidise them. It could apply to accommodation and paid ‘adventure’ experiences . I do hope this could be seriously considered and not denied by our state government. Michael McDougall Suffolk Park ■ Dear Mayor Ndiaye, coun-

cillors and general manager, we got your letter. You’re telling ratepayers that Council needs more money for much-needed services, suggesting a 32 per cent Special Rate Variation, after selling the only centrally-located public car park and toilet block in Mullumbimby, worth around a million, for $1. Please explain. Patrick Morrisey Goonengerry

■ In yesterday’s mail, on 18

August, I received a letter/ brochure from Byron Shire Council dated 11 August titled ‘Byron Shire’s Financial Future’. Ostensibly the letter was about making a claim to increase land rates by a compounded 35.03 per cent over three years. A rate well beyond past or projected inflation over a three-year period. It estimated that the ‘asked for’ rate increases would generate $84m for Council over ten years. A neat and precise numerical claim for more revenue! However, the argument for why the money was needed, was not made as clearly and concisely. In fact we have to believe that ‘maintaining and renewing’, ‘building resilience’, ‘improving efficiency,’ etc. are not already important everyday Council processes. But they will be absolutely necessary in the future and must be paid for by increasing rates. I am nudging 80 years old. I’ve seen these vaguely worded claims many times before, and I simply don’t believe them! You can’t measure them and so you can’t know if they eventuate. In ten years most of the people pushing for the increase will not be around to face any consequences for decisions they make today. Like the developers along Jonson Street they will have created an outcome, good or bad, and will be gone. We will be left to suffer the long-term consequences Paul Gannon Coopers Shoot

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Letters to the Editor www.echo.net.au/letters Byron Writers Fest

Rail trail future

Like everyone else, I am still bathing in the warm inner glow and sanctuary of being surrounded by like-minded people for three full days, cheering loudly while everyone attacked the right and railed against the neoliberalism of the current powers. By the third day, I felt choked and consumed by the echo chamber of self-congratulation that was going on, such that we had skewered the long-serving John Howard and all others who dared to espouse anything remotely conservative. The festival invited us to be ‘thinking together’ and it failed because there was nothing to think about. Rather, the echo chamber festival invited us to be amongst fellow lefties with nothing to challenge those opinions or suggest an alternative to be ‘thinking about’. Sure, it sold a lot of books, but why, for but one tiny example, did the festival’s board not use the opportunity to have a panel analysing Howard, with one person recognising his positive contributions, if there were any. By the time the talk finished, I was (like everyone else) adamant there were none. Duncan Holmes Byron Bay

The Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) represents one of the most exciting opportunities our region has seen in decades. It has the potential to improve community wellbeing, encourage active transport, strengthen regional connections, and generate significant economic benefits through tourism. The challenge is not whether we should build it, but how we can give it the greatest chance of success. Perhaps it is time to consider a different approach. Rather than relying primarily on local government to secure the capital required for construction, we could establish an independent Northern Rivers Trail Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to fundraising, project advocacy, and helping bring the trail to a shovel-ready stage. This would not replace the important role of Council. Quite the opposite. Councils are responsible for an enormous range of essential services, infrastructure, and competing community priorities. An independent foundation could complement that role by attracting philanthropic

The challenge is not whether we should build it, but how we can give it the greatest chance of success.

North Coast news online

Every time rail’s future is raised, we hear: ‘The rail will never come back’. Say something often enough and it becomes a truth.

investment, corporate sponsorship, and private donations that would otherwise be difficult for local government to secure. Once completed, the trail could then be handed to Council for long-term ownership, maintenance, and management. This is not an untested idea. The Queenstown Trails Trust in New Zealand has demonstrated just how successful this model can be. Through dedicated fundraising and professional marketing, the trust has attracted millions of dollars in private investment to help create one of New Zealand’s most celebrated trail networks. Why couldn’t the Northern Rivers do the same? Our community deserves a world-class rail trail. By establishing an independent Northern Rivers Trail Foundation, we could unite government, business, philanthropy, and the community behind a shared vision, while creating a funding model that inspires

confidence, encourages investment and helps bring this important project to life sooner. Once the Rail trail is complete perhaps the trust could deliver other walking and riding trails in the region. Sometimes the best ideas are not new ideas—they are proven ideas adapted to local circumstances. Perhaps this is one worth exploring. Campbell Shepherd Better By Bike, Byron Bay

Trains on tracks I was surprised to see The Echo promoting the Rail Trail. I support cycleways – more of us should ride when we can – but recent torrential rain shows bikes can’t always be used. Every time rail’s future is raised, we hear: ‘The rail will never come back’. Say something often enough and it becomes a truth. But is that based on today’s evidence, or yesterday’s assumptions – or vested interests? The Rail Trail sought $42 million for its cycleway – supported by Byron Council in a disappointing rejection

of its own Transport Policy, which places the rail corridor as key to public transport. Surely the same investment deserves consideration for actual public transport on one of Australia’s most valuable corridors? Australia’s governments are serious investing billions in rail. Victoria is upgrading and reopening regional passenger services, the federal government is investing in freight rail, NSW is introducing a new regional fleet and upgrading the North Coast line to Casino [which goes to Brisbane]. So why is the Northern Rivers treated differently? The Murwillumbah line is dismissed as too expensive to restore, yet the Arcadis assessment, commissioned by Council for the Multi-Use Rail Corridor study, found much of the formation, ballast, rails and steel sleepers in generally good condition and that the main issues – vegetation, timber bridges, timber sleepers, level crossings – can be solved. Arcadis concluded a modern, low-speed passenger service deserved serious consideration –, and the Byron Solar Train proves that passenger rail works here. With congestion worsening, tourism increasing

exponentially, and emissions targets looming, these are precisely the conditions under which rail becomes more attractive. The question isn’t whether rail must return, but why our community is expected to accept it never can. There’s an election coming. Cate Coorey Byron Bay ■ More train letters in The

Echo online: www.echo.net.au.

Being un conscious There is a general belief that consciousness is an entity in itself or something that is non-physical. I don’t think that it’s necessary to bring in a non-physical factor to consider consciousness. I think that we are just kidding ourselves that consciousness is some magical factor. I think that all we need to experience consciousness is to just have at least two parts of the brain sending information between themselves back and forth, the information coming in to one side stimulates the information to be sent back and around and around it’s a merry-go-round of information stimulation. No non-physical magic is needed. What do you reckon? Sapoty Brook Main Arm

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BECOME A MEMBER! The Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce represents a mixture of businesses and community groups that have come together for the purpose of ensuring Mullumbimby thrives and remains a vibrant community. Since its inception in 2013, the Chamber has hosted numerous successful events. These include street banquets, the revival of The Chinny Charge, Carols by Candlelight and the

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12 The Byron Shire Echo August 26, 2026

annual Shop Local campaign before Christmas. The Chamber also supports Brunswick Valley Historical Society, Mullumbimby Community Gardens, GateWay Landcare, Spaghetti Circus and many other community organisations. If you have a business in Mullumbimby area or are a resident of the Mullumbimby area, you are welcome to join the Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce. An initiative of the Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce

www.mullumbimby.org.au www.echo.net.au

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August 26, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 13

Articles

North Coast news online

Lynda Dean – a life of love and making the world a better place Christopher Dean

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y beloved Lynda Dean was the rock and the heart that held in place not only me and our family, but an extraordinary network of friends and communities throughout the Byron Shire and far beyond. Lynda was one of those rare people whom you instinctively trusted. Direct and fearless in speaking the truth, she combined wisdom, openness, love of humanity, and wonderfully grounded common sense. People sought her counsel because she listened deeply, cared enormously, and somehow knew what needed to be said. Born in Paddington, Sydney, to Grace and Mylias, Lynda grew up knowing scarcity but surrounded by a colourful and loving extended family. Exceptionally bright, she attended Sydney Girls High, where she formed friendships that lasted her entire life. Six of those school friends continued meeting every year for four days together – a small example of Lynda’s remarkable gift for holding people and communities together. I met Lynda more than 50 years ago when we were both District Officers in the old Department of Youth and Community Services, working with troubled young people in Fairfield and Cabramatta. We shared a conviction that the child welfare system could do better. Together we helped establish the Field Officers Group, which grew to some 300 officers campaigning for reform. Our belief was always that building self-worth and

Lynda and Christopher Dean. Photo supplied Lynda Dean 1 October 1949 – 16 August 2026. creativity could transform lives. One memorable experiment brought 19 young probationers together and gave them access to sophisticated new video equipment. They became the Vidi Kids, making films about their own difficult lives. Instead of the vandalism and failure others expected, they flourished. We also joined friends supporting Sydney’s first refuge for very young homeless people in Kings Cross. Working side by side on these humanitarian projects created a bond between us that only deepened over the next half-century.

Heading to the North Coast When my stepfather’s dream of creating an Australian tea tree oil industry was failing, Lynda agreed to leave Sydney with me and try to rescue it. We moved into an isolated log cabin in a vast northern NSW swamp, without power, telephone, neighbours, or even running water. We lived a pioneer life, rebuilding our home with whatever we could salvage,

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sustained by the belief that tea tree oil could become something valuable for the world. That dream became Thursday Plantation. As it grew into an international company, Lynda became my closest fellow director, and headed human resources. While I was inclined to fly off with another wild idea, Lynda kept us grounded. Her instinct for people was extraordinary – knowing when someone needed guidance, when they needed firmness, and when they simply needed the freedom to flourish. Eventually we came to Byron Bay and found the place that truly became home. We bought an old house in the heart of town and filled it with light, love, art, music, food, and parties. Lynda presided over the long table, and everyone was welcome. Her contribution to this community was immense. As President of the Byron Bay Community Centre, she helped guide the transformation of a ramshackle old building into the wonderful community resource it is today. She worked early morning shifts with Liberation Larder, helping provide meals for people in need. With Chris Hanley, Lynda helped establish the Writers Centre that ultimately gave birth to the Byron Writers Festival. She remained a guiding presence from its earliest days, helping it grow into one of Australia’s great regional cultural institutions. She also gave years of service to the Northern Rivers Community Foundation, helping strengthen an organisation that has supported hundreds of community groups throughout our region. Lynda worked tirelessly with projects supporting women experiencing domestic violence, the Shift Network, and many others. When difficulties arose, the phone would ring: ‘What should we do?’ Lynda had

an extraordinary ability to cut through confusion and help people find a clear way forward. After we sold Thursday Plantation, another great adventure began. We became directors of Organic India, a small values-driven enterprise with an ambition to become a ‘Vehicle of Consciousness for the Planet.’ Over ten years we travelled to India more than 24 times, helping the company grow internationally while remaining true to its ethical and spiritual foundations. It was work that suited Lynda perfectly. But above everything else was family. Lynda adored her children, Christopher, Nicholas, and Kalianna, and found immense joy in her grandchildren Elliott, Luca, and Leo. She was the glue of our family and the centre around which so much of our life revolved. Eighteen months ago Lynda was diagnosed with an extremely rare and aggressive cancer. After receiving the diagnosis we went to a nearby cafe, looked at each other and, almost simultaneously, said: ‘I have no fear of death’. That became the spirit in which we lived the time that remained. Of course we fought the cancer, but more importantly we made every day precious. Treatment gave us enough time for one glorious family journey through Paris, Courchevel, and Budapest, where Lynda even skied again with her beloved grandchildren. Later, as her strength faded, we simply said, ‘Let’s go to Bali’. We spent two blissful weeks together in a place we had loved for many years, surrounded by beauty and the gracious care of the Balinese people. There is so much more that could be written. Lynda had an enormous circle of friends, including a remarkable group of local women who met monthly for 15 years. She even took to the stage in The Vagina Monologues, characteristically unafraid to share intimate truths. She held nothing back from life. For me, Lynda was the angel who allowed me to fly free, knowing there would always be a safe and loving place to land. She filled our lives with love, friendship, wisdom, wonderful food, laughter, courage, a listening ear, and an enormous heart. She was deeply loved. She made an extraordinary difference. And she will be profoundly missed.

www.echo.net.au

Sport Supported by Newy Store Ocean Shores golf pennant winners

Ale Imamura brings Pan Kids Jiu Jitsu win home At just 12 years old, Byron Bay Jiu Jitsu athlete Ale Imamura has brought another major international title home after being crowned 2026 IBJJF Pan Kids Champion in Orlando, Florida. Last year Ale brought silver to his home town but this year he returned to the event determined to finish the job in the top spot. Competing at the Silver Spurs Arena on one of the biggest stages in the world for junior Jiu Jitsu, Ale won all four of his matches to become a two-time Pan Kids Champion. Ale competed in the Yellow Belt Under 37kg division representing The Academy Byron Bay, with his coach and eight-time World Champion Thalison Soares in his corner throughout the competition.

The Ocean Shores division one team created club history earlier this month by winning the clubs first ever NRDGA division one pennant flag. Congratulations to (left to right) Will Fry, Charlie Dean, Ben Adams, Andrew Jordan Brown, and Steve Heptonstall. Photo supplied

A hole in one!

The recent Pro Am event held at the Ocean Shores Country Club saw Mullumbimby Golf Club’s Cody Watego get a hole in one. ‘Mullumbimby sent over a crack team of golf assassins and Cody Watego decided he only needed one shot on the 8th,’ said the MGC socials. Photo MGC

Mullum Golf Club charity day Saturday This Saturday, 29 August the Mullumbimby Golf Club (MGC) is hosting its rescheduled MND (Motor Neurone Disease) Charity Day in honour of Steve Ryan. There are a few spots left with tee-times at 7.45am and 11.45am with a four-person Ambrose format.

Double donation ‘If you do play, $5 from your entry fee will go to MND and $5 to the Steve Ryan Memorial Junior Day. Our junior day is being renamed in honour of Steve who put so much of his time into running clinics around the

schools along with his junior program at the club,’ said MGC. ‘Bring some gold coins as there will be some fun on the course where your donation will again support both reasearch of motor neurone disease and the Steve Ryan Junior Day.’

Balancing act His road to gold included two wins by submission and two by points, but the biggest moment came in the final. In a dramatic finish, Ale secured an armbar in the dying seconds of the match to claim the title and win the gold. Away from the mats, Ale is a Year 7 student at Byron Bay High School, where he also achieves strong academic wins – balancing school with a demanding training schedule and regular

Say a little prayer – Ale put his hands together while awaiting the referee decision after a VAR review. The decision didn’t go his way putting him down by one advantage only 20 seconds before the end. Photo supplied interstate and international competition. In September Ale will travel to Tokyo for the World Championships, then on to the European No Gi Championships in Lisbon in October. From the classroom and training mats in Byron Bay to some of the biggest Jiu Jitsu stages in the world,

Ale continues to proudly carry his hometown with him wherever he competes, and, with a big few months ahead, and the cost of competing nationally and internationally continuing to grow, Ale is looking to build partnerships with local businesses that would like to be part of his journey.

Academy Byron Bay shines at Aus Champs The Academy Byron Bay has returned from the 2026 AJJC Australian Jiu Jitsu Championships in Melbourne with an outstanding set of results, proving once again that a small regional gym can compete alongside the best teams in the country. Held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre

from 14 to 16 August, the Academy travelled south with a team of 37 competitors, ranging from just six years of age through to men and women in their 50s. Across the weekend, the Byron Bay team collected an impressive 48 medals, including 26 gold. One of the standout

achievements was the team’s overall performance across its 92 matches. The Academy recorded a 67.4 per cent win rate, the highest win rate at the championships by athletes representing a single gym. The club’s youth squad featured strongly, with many reaching the podium.

Newy Store OPEN 7:30am – 6:00pm 7 DAYS A WEEK • Licensed post office • General convenience store • Fresh produce & groceries • Soft drinks, lollies, ice cream • Newspapers & magazines • Wine, beer, spirits & tobacco

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August 26, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 15

The

Good Life Good Taste Dining Guide

Check the vital details of some of the region’s finest foodies. BRUNSWICK HEADS

PACIFIC BISTRO AT BRUNSWICK HEADS BOWLING CLUB

BAYSIDE YAKINIKU CLUB BY YUKO

Fresh, affordable meals. Relaxed, family-friendly setting. Classic pub favourites, premium steaks, burgers and specials, including our popular Saturday Curry Night. Open: Tuesday to Sunday for lunch 12pm–2pm and dinner 5pm–8pm Address: 107 Tweed St, Brunswick Heads brunswickbowlingclub.com/

Authentic Japanese Charcoal Restaurant Premium Australian Wagyu, homemade sauces, fermented food, rice bowls and deli salads. Open: Wednesday to Sunday Lunch 12pm–3pm Dinner 5.30pm–8.30pm Address: 1/14 Bay Street, Byron Bay Contact: 0493 565 508 @bayside_yakiniku _club

BYRON BAY

THREE BLUE DUCKS

ROCA BYRON BAY Latin fusion restaurant blending deeply rooted Latin American traditions, with innovative techniques and a flair for presentation. Open: every day except Wednesday 6.30am to late Address: 14 Lawson Street, Byron Bay www.rocabyronbay.com.au

FOREST BYRON BAY Rainforest views, farm-to-table dining, and a menu showcasing the best of Northern Rivers produce. Open: 7 days: Breakfast 7.30–10.30am Lunch on verandah from 12–3pm Dinner 5.30–9pm Address: 77-97 Broken Head Road, Byron Bay crystalbrookcollection.com/byron/forest

BOMBAY TO BYRON AUTHENTIC INDIAN FOOD Serving Indian food to Byron Bay for last 12 years. Open: Monday 4.30pm–9.30pm Tuesday to Sunday 12 noon–3pm and 4.30pm–9.30pm Address : 3/93 Jonson Street Byron Bay Contact: 02 6680 7437 bombaytobyron@gmail.com

MANNA HAVEN 100% whole food, plant-based, house-made meals that are delicious and full of love. Celebrating 20 years in Byron! Open: Mon to Fri 11am–3pm Address: 97 Jonson Street, Byron Bay mannahaven.com.au

16 The Byron Shire Echo August 26, 2026

At The Farm enjoy a wander in the fields, meet the animals, and picnic in the sun… there really is something for everyone. Open: Monday – Friday 8am–4pm Saturday 8am– 6.30pm Sunday 8am–8pm Address: The Farm, 11 Ewingsdale Rd, Ewingsdale www.threeblueducks.com/byron

NO BONES BYRON BAY Vegan Kitchen + Bar $20 Carbonara Mondays, all night (until sold out). HAPPIEST HOUR: 5-6pm every night: $8 local taps, $14 cocktails, $10 mocktails, $9 natural wines Live jazz by Mondo Hum, first Fri each month Open: 7 nights from 5pm Address: 11 Fletcher Street, Byron Bay @nobonesrestaurants

WILSONS CREEK

THREEWAYS OF THE VALLEY Nestled in the lush Wilsons Creek rainforest, Threeways is a vibrant, family-friendly cafe where nature, nourishment, and community meet. Open: Wednesday – Sunday 8am–3pm and Saturday night. Address: 10 Huonbrook Rd, Wilsons Creek Contact: 0421 054 804 www.threeways.store @threeways_of_the_valley

www.echo.net.au/good-taste

www.echo.net.au

The

Good Life Perk up, Byron – No food fraud at the spring is coming farmers’ market

Winter is on its way out, and The Roadhouse is throwing open the precinct to celebrate. On Sunday, 30 August, Perk Up Byron returns for a free, all-ages morning bringing the community together over coffee, movement, markets, food and music. From 8am, thrift and local market stalls will spill through the precinct outside Peaches Pilates and Sol Method, with free community yoga and Pilates classes, free Allpress foam drinks, food from the Roadhouse kitchen and Piccante on the decks. It’s the kind of Sunday morning that feels particularly Byron: come for a class, stay for breakfast, hunt through the racks, catch up with friends, bring the kids – or simply find a spot in the sun.

COFFEE SH

And as Byron moves into celebration season, the Roadhouse itself has plenty of room to gather. The palm-filled terrace opens up beautifully in the warmer weather, while the separate dining room and cafe bar offer more intimate spaces for birthdays, long lunches, private dinners and end-ofyear parties. It’s a venue that has always suited people settling in and staying awhile – from morning coffee through to dinner under the palms. Perk Up Byron is Sunday, 30 August, from 8am to 1pm. Free entry and all ages. ■ Keep an eye on

The Roadhouse website and socials for what’s happening this spring. roadhousebyronbay.com. 142 Bangalow Road, Byron Bay.

Bangalow Farmers Market in Piccabeen Park The products tested were bought from Woolworths, Coles and Aldi stores as well as a number of independent retailers. And the misleading claims also extended to other products including meat, honey, seafood and alcohol. ‘It’s really alarming and makes you question the integrity of the supermarket food supply system,’ says Tom. ‘It also highlights how important it is to have stringent auditing policies to protect consumers.

‘We really hang our hat on our integrity at Byron and Bangalow Farmers Markets and we want people to know that when they are shopping at our markets they are getting the real deal – genuinely locally grown and produced food. You won’t find any food fraud here.’ ■ Byron Farmers Market is

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

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And with spring around the corner, there’ll be plenty more reasons to linger at the Roadhouse. The kitchen continues to revolve around the ‘smoke + fire’ cooking the venue has become known for: woodfired pizzas, hibachi-cooked meat, seafood and vegetables, seasonal produce and share plates made for the middle of the table. Midweek has its own rhythm. Wood-Fired Wednesdays pairs two pizzas and a side for $59, with local musicians returning to Wednesday nights as the warmer months roll in. Thursday’s now wellestablished Steak Night keeps things equally simple: steak, fries and a glass of wine for $35. There are more one-off dinners, collaborations, DJs and events to come, too.

Food fraud has made headlines recently after an investigation by ABC program Four Corners found the issue is rampant in major supermarket aisles in Australia. Food fraud includes substituting cheap ingredients, altering expiry dates, falsifying geographic origins, and diluting premium goods. While the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is investigating further, in the meantime the best way to avoid food fraud is to shop at your local farmers’ market where you can trust that the food you are buying is not only authentically Australian but also locally grown. Byron Farmers Market manager Tom Carey says that the market has strict guidelines about provenance, which includes an independent audit of every stallholder at the market. ‘Every member that joins the market is audited when they apply and agrees to trade by these terms, which includes an on-farm visit by an independent auditor and ongoing audits every couple of years. ‘This provides our customers (and fellow market members) assurance that the produce they are buying at our markets is genuinely grown or made by the stall selling it.’ The Four Corners investigation found that many supermarket tomato products labelled Australian or Italian in fact contained tomatoes from China. It also found adulteration in turmeric products, including lead-based yellow pigment used in paints and plastics.

CELEBRATIONS Cakes by Liz Jackson

lizzijjackson@gmail.com 0414 895 441 Gluten-free and special dietary needs catered for. August 26, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 17

Sunday, 6 SEPTEMBER

Father’s Day Stewart’s Menswear

Father’s Day is Sunday, 6 September, so now’s the time to start planning. From everyday essentials to thoughtful surprises, Stewart’s Menswear offers a wide range of gift ideas for dads of all ages. Whether it’s quality weekend wear, hardworking gear, or something a little special, shoppers will find plenty to choose from including a selection of Australian-made favourites. Free gift–wrapping is available in-store. Proudly family-owned and serving the Mullumbimby community since 1929, Stewart’s Menswear invites you to visit the store or shop online.

Dad: A son’s first hero, a daughter’s first love.” — Unknown

02 6684 2148 52-54 Burringbar Street, Mullumbimby stewartsmenswear.com.au

Dad won’t buy his own undies

Kingscliff Beach Bowls Club Treat dad to a Father’s Day feast at Kingscliff Beach Bowls Club. Join us during service on Sunday, 6 September and celebrate with two hearty favourites made for the occasion. Choose from our Salt & Pepper Pork Ribs, or tuck into a comforting Slow-Cooked Lamb Shank, with a FREE schooner included with either meal. Bring Dad, gather the family and enjoy great food, a cold schooner and a relaxed Father’s Day by the beach. Book your table today!

Let’s be honest, Dad’s undie drawer has seen better days, and he’s never going to sort it himself. So this Father’s Day, do it for him. Reer Endz is a Lennox Head family-run business, making organic cotton underwear that’s soft, comfortable and built to last. It’s the kind of everyday upgrade he’d never think to buy, but would wear every single day. Treat the guy who does it all to comfort he’ll notice the moment he puts it on. Sort him before Sunday, 6 September.

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Give Dad Something He’ll Actually Keep Fathers’ Day at Threeways of the Valley Give dad the good stuff this Father’s Day. Head to Threeways of the Valley for their $30 Burger & Beer special; any burger on the menu paired with a cold schooner, served 10am to 2pm only. Set among the hills of Wilsons Creek, it’s the perfect excuse to slow down, sit outside, and let someone else do the cooking. Book ahead – dads deserve a table. 10 Huonbrook Rd, Wilsons Creek 0421 054 484 www.threeways.store

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Fathers Day Special Burger + Beer combo $30 Choice of juicy beef brisket, fresh chicken or herbed mushroom burger

This Father’s Day, skip the socks and give dad something with a little more character.At Rock of Ages Tattoo Parlour in Lennox Head, we believe a great tattoo is more than a piece of artwork - it’s a story, a memory, or a mark of the things that matter. Whether dad has been talking about his first tattoo for years, wants to add to an existing collection, or you’re looking for a truly memorable gift, a Rock of Ages gift voucher is a present that lasts well beyond

Father’s Day. Our experienced artists work across a range of styles, creating considered, individual tattoos in a relaxed, professional studio environment. Gift vouchers are available on our website or from the studio. Open Mon-Sat from 10am till late 3/60 Ballina Street, Lennox Head 02 6687 5872 www.rockofagestattoo.com.au

Byron Bay Chocolate Co DADS DIG CANVAS Looking for a Father’s Day gift that won’t end up forgotten in a drawer? Remote Projects makes hard-wearing canvas goods designed for everyday use, from bags to tarps, firewood carriers, caps and tees. Practical gifts for anyone who appreciates things that are well made and built to last, with our canvas gear backed by a ten–year warranty. Visit the Remote Projects store in Bangalow (across from the A&I Hall) to browse the full range, with plenty of good gear for fathers, grandfathers and hard-to-buy-for blokes. Mention you’re a local in store to receive 10% off.

Be the favorite child this year and give dad something from the Byron Bay Chocolate Co. Their chocolates are handmade with love in Byron Bay with a huge range to choose from so you’ll be spoilt for choice. Byron Bay Chocolate Co. is a family-run business, using only the highest quality ingredients, enjoyed by locals and visitors to Byron for the past 30 years. Stocked in all the best places! www.byronbaychocolateco.com

Mountain views | Licensed venue | Locally owned & run

www.threeways.store

0421 054 484

QUALITY CANVAS GOODS FOR EVERYDAY ADVENTURES

Shop now open 10 Station Street, Bangalow Locals discount in store WWW.REMOTEPROJECTS.COM.AU

20 The Byron Shire Echo August 26, 2026

10 Station St, Bangalow www.remoteprojects.com.au @remoteprojects

FATCHOC HE OL RS AT LUV ES! EM 2

Over 30 different flavours, available at leading local stores. www.byronbaychocolateco.com.au 02 6685 8062 @byronbaychocolateco www.echo.net.au

“Just taught my kids about taxes by eating 38% of their ice cream.” — Conan O’Brien

Father’s Day

Father’s Day BBQ at the Beach Hotel

Celebrate Father’s Day with a laid-back Sunday Session BBQ at the Beach Hotel. On Sunday, 6 September, the Beer Garden will come alive from 12 to 4pm with a special BBQ menu, live DJ and plenty of good times. Dad can enjoy $9 Stone & Wood schooners all day, while the iconic Stone & Wood Troopy makes a special guest appearance. It’s the perfect excuse to gather the family, grab a table and settle in for an afternoon of great food, cold beers and live music. Whether you’re celebrating dad, grandpa or the father figure in your life, make a day of it at the Beachy. Come along, bring the family and enjoy a Father’s Day Sunday Session BBQ by the Beach. Sunday, 6 September from 12 to 4pm Bay Street, Byron Bay www.beachhotel.com.au

BOLT + BUCKLE

Dad says he doesn’t need anything. Dad is wrong. We’re the ‘men are so hard to buy for’ store, and Father’s Day is one of our busiest fortnights for a reason. Our Dad’s Day Gift Guide is sorted by the kind of dad you’re actually buying for. The one with stories to tell. The one who’s always on the go. The one who likes to scrub up, the one who likes the good stuff, and the one who already has everything. Think leather journals, cool enamel mugs, or some cologne or beard oil to make him smell a bit better. Or maybe some cheeky books, fun games, or challenging puzzles to keep him occupied. And of course... we’ve got the fashion side covered too. Come in store for some Father’s Day inspo and let our team help you with ideas. We’re in Murwillumbah and Alstonville. Or shop the gift guide online at boltandbuckle.com.au. 92A Main, St Alstonville 11 Commercial Road, Murwillumbah boltandbukcle.com.au

FATHERS DAY SEPT 6th

T H E B E AC H H OT E L

FATHER’S DAY FATHER’S DAY SUN 6 S P SUN SEPT || 12 12PM PM -- 4PM 4PM

s d dTOa BUY FOR”

OPEN 7 DAYS

Your “MEN ARE SO HARD

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INCLUDES: PACIFIC ALE, HINTERLAND HAZY, EASY PALE, NRB ENJOY RESPONSIBLY

www.echo.net.au

Murwillumbah & Alstonville

store. boltandbuckle

August 26, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 21

Byron Arts & Industry Estate

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Creative, small-batch, hand-made, state-of-the-art, artisan, innovative, ethical, imaginative, hyper-local, leading-edge, quality, EXPLORE premium, master, handcrafted, accomplished, cutting edge, organic, designer, eclectic DISCOVER ingenious, beautiful, unique, sensational, avant-garde, original, visionary, inspirational, expert, brilliant, gifted, ahead of the curve. YOU wonderful, compelling, THERE 1. AKADEMIE experiencing, witnessing, engaging. NOW. Akademie exists to elevate the standard of Pilates by redefining how it is practised, taught and studied. Rooted in classical Pilates and shaped by modern concepts, their method values discipline, alignment, inclusivity and repetition. They invite you to deepen your practice with precision, purpose and long-term results. A curriculum for the body. A philosophy for life.

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Loco Love creates artisanal chocolate magic, designed to bring more beauty, presence and love into everyday life. Crafted in Byron Bay with organic ingredients, sustainable cacao and genuine wholefoods, every creation honours nature, conscious craftsmanship and the wisdom of ritual. Each chocolate is an invitation to slow down, awaken your heart and remember the magic that already lies within you.

4. B YRON BAY SALVOS STORE

Packed with quality pre-loved clothing, homewares, furniture, books and more at great prices. Discover great deals on well-known brands and make sustainable shopping even sweeter. Now Accepting Donations The Salvos welcome clean, good-quality items. Your donations help support programs making a real difference locally. Shop sustainably. Support local. Give back. Discover something special today. Great brands. Great prices. Great cause. 5 Banksia Drive

5. OUR TIMELESS THREADS Visit Our Timeless Threads (The OTT Shop), a nurse‑led, not‑for‑profit op shop and creative hub at 18 Acacia Street. Rummage through racks and textile bins, up-cycle fashion waste, host or join community‑led workshops, bring your clothes to quarterly preloved community markets, and learn from seniors in our skill‑share sessions. Donate, volunteer, discover unique finds, while igniting intergenerational connections through creativity, sustainability, fashion and music.

63 Centennial Circuit @locolovechocolate locolove.com

The OTT Shop, 18 Acacia Street Contact Maia Willow: 0404 813 643 ourtimelessthreads.org @ourtimelessthreads

3. BODHI LIVING

6. THE LARDER

Bodhi Living showcases a carefully-curated collection of furniture, homewares, rugs and lighting, sourced both locally and globally. They have introduced a range of collections designed in-house, including sofas, dining tables and seating using natural and sustainable materials such as rattan and wood.

Catering made simple, events made memorable

The brand encapsulates the freedom of spirit, and the soul of the individual, as represented through their home.

Be a guest at your own party. Enjoy every moment while establishing unforgettable memories.

Shop 1/18 Centennial Circuit bodhiliving.com.au @bodhi.living

02 6680 8644 catering@thelarder.com.au 1/12 Bayshore Dr

The Larder Byron Bay caters for life’s moments. Casual backyard BBQs and intimate gatherings to grand celebrations, The Larder lets you relax and savour the fun. Let them handle the heat so you get the most out of your event.

Habitat Precinct Habitat is a cleverly designed village in Byron Bay, where you can live, work and play, all in one place. Over 20 years in the making, Habitat combines the best of old-school Byron (community, creativity, respect for the environment) with the latest in design and thinking (renewable energy, car sharing, hybrid live + work spaces) along with plenty of shops, cafés, and good times, it is a little oasis within one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

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HABITAT Get out of town! Visit Habitat where you can shop, eat, drink and recharge, all in one place. Think standout wellness, beauty and fitness studios, seriously good food, and a unique mix of flagship stores. Made for slow mornings, post-work resets, and long, lingering lunches in the sunny courtyard. 1 Porter Street habitatbyronbay.com @habitat_byronbay

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8. BYRON FAMILY LAW Byron Family Law is a boutique family law firm established in Byron Bay. Through collaborative and resolution-focused practices, they support clients to separate more kindly and to rebuild following divorce or separation.

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They work in collaboration with local counsellors, conveyancers, accountants, mediators, and health and wellness professionals to support you and your family to not only survive, but thrive following a separation. 18 Parkes Avenue 02 6687 2774 byronfamilylaw.com.au

22 The Byron Shire Echo August 26, 2026

9. RICHARDSON MURRAY LAW Practicing exclusively in family law, Richardson Murray offers legal advice and guidance in matters of separation, divorce, parenting arrangements and property settlements. With considerable experience in all matters of relationship breakdown, including domestic and family violence, Richardson Murray are known for their compassionate approach and commitment. Their dedicated team aims to deliver the best possible outcomes for clients. 42 Parkes Avenue richardson-murray.law

www.echo.net.au

Making

SPACES As the winter season is coming to an end Swap a Bottle want to thank all their wonderful customers for their continued support in choosing them for their gas supply.

local, small, family-run business, every call Swap a Bottle Asanda online order is one filled with gratitude

and appreciation. It’s been a super busy winter keeping everyone’s hot water flowing and gas fires burning! Hearing the feedback on the reliability and wonderful customer service that is provided, is something held with pride. If you are thinking it’s time for a LP Gas supplier change – Swap a Bottle are a free call away to help with any questions. Changing is simple and easy and might be the decision you keep meaning to make! Or simply use the QR code and place your order directly online today! With the depot located in South Murwillumbah, please remember you can bring your in-date BBQ bottle in for a speedy refill – Look for the blue flags out the front. 10 Kite Crescent South Murwillumbah Free Call 1300 727 013 swapabottlegas.com

Eden at Byron

Get your garden ready for Spring planting. If you haven’t yet tried our locally produced organic Living Farm Compost, then now is the time. It’s a game-changer! It enriches the soil, gently feeding and nourishing plants while encouraging earthworm activity and increasing moisture retention. Healthy soil means happy, healthy plants, and that means fewer pests and diseases for you to worry about. Add compost to new or existing garden beds. You can plant directly into it, so it’s great for no-dig gardens too. Top up the mulch on garden beds to help conserve moisture and suppress weeds. BFA certified organic sugar cane mulch is ideal for herb and vegetable gardens. 02 6685 6874 140 Bangalow Road Byron Bay shop@edenatbyron.com.au edenatbyron.com.au

Combat humidity and protect your home

During the Northern Rivers’ rainy season, excess humidity creates the perfect environment for mould growth in both air conditioning systems and homes. Artisan Air reminds homeowners that most modern air conditioners feature a dehumidifier setting – a powerful yet often underutilised function that removes moisture without overcooling spaces. Running the dehumidifier mode regularly during wet weather prevents mould development inside the unit while protecting furnishings, walls, and belongings from moisture damage. This setting uses less energy than full cooling mode, making it an economical humidity control solution. For homes requiring additional moisture management, Artisan Air supplies dedicated dehumidifiers that work independently or alongside existing systems. These standalone units provide targeted control in problem areas like bathrooms, laundries, and bedrooms, ensuring comprehensive protection throughout the home. 02 6680 9394 hello@artisanair.com.au artisanair.com.au

www.echo.net.au

Konpak

Live in a Konpak home, built for the changing seasons of life. Based in Murwillumbah, Konpak design and build compact, architecturally-considered tiny homes made for modern living. Whether you’re seeking a backyard rental, a multi-generational living solution, or just a simpler lifestyle, Konpak offers functional, beautiful dwellings that don’t compromise on quality. Each home is locally built and delivered ready to live in which means no on-site construction stress. Our team works closely with you to customise your space and make the most of every square metre. Big on lifestyle, small in size, Konpak is about building smarter, not bigger.. 300 Lundberg Drive, South Murwillumbah (by appointment only) Call Cody 0434 272 353 konpak.com.au @konpak_homes

Windows and doors Fret no more! Don’t replace… REPAIR and SAVE with not working properly? Working Windows. Jake and Toby are local experts specialising in the repair and, if necessary, replacement of windows, doors, flyscreens and security screens.

With 10+ years experience in timber, aluminium and uPVC products, they pride themselves on always delivering top-quality, eco-friendly results that best benefit you and your environment. Contact them today via phone or email, or check out their website for more information. Jake 0435 506 465 Toby 0405 793 994 workingwindows1@gmail.com workingwindows.com.au

LA Lounge is a family-owned business and one of

Innovative lighting Australia’s trusted names in luxury lighting. provide professional lighting design, detailed design for your next They documentation packages, and premium-quality fittings for residential, multi-residential, building project light and commercial projects. The experienced team creates tailored lighting plans that combine functionality, comfort, and elegance while incorporating the latest technologies, including DALI-compatible and circadian lighting solutions. Whether you’re building a home, apartment development, or commercial space, LA Lounge helps bring your vision to life with expert advice and innovative design. Visit their gallery online or book an appointment at our Burleigh Heads showroom to discover how exceptional lighting can transform your project. lalounge.com.au jason@lalounge.com.au

ProSolar is installing home battery systems

Unprecedented across the Northern Rivers at a record pace as demand surges. Locals increasingly recognise demand for battery the importance of storing solar energy for use at ensuring energy independence and lower installations night, electricity bills. With the NSW battery rebate

making storage solutions more affordable than ever, households are seizing the opportunity to maximise their solar investment. ProSolar’s expert team is leading the charge, equipping homes with cutting-edge battery technology that enhances energy resilience and sustainability. As power prices fluctuate and grid reliability concerns grow, more residents are turning to solar storage as a smart, long-term solution. The Northern Rivers community is embracing the future of renewable energy, and ProSolar is proud to be at the forefront of this transition. ProSolar Australia, 6/71 Molesworth St, Lismore 02 7912 0760 prosolaraustralia.com.au

August 26, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 23

Mungo from the Bardo Soapbox www.echo.net.au/soap-box

Crossword by Mungo MacCallum 1

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Turn and Face the Change

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1. Chopped salmon, fowl and fruit – that’s mad! (1,3,4,2,5) 9. Heroic first course cut short – still the focal point (9) 10. Mother holds a note – hot stuff! (5) 11. Owing money for a broken tin bed (2,4) 12. Haggard, allow it can be run or thrown down! (8) 13. Rogue artist’s state (6) 15. Counter without number includes politician – a clever counter! (8) 18. Tropical foliage plant with (Latin) a boy setter thrown in (8) 19. Bury the tree man with an old doctor (6) 21. Independent senator has a rare gas about acidity (8) 23. Narrow, small characteristic (6) 26. Open shirt after balls (5) 27. Rambling speech to equip mother for the part (9) 28. Flabby thirteens are mad, like 1 across (4,2,3,6)

1. What a really confused person is as mad as (1,3,4,2,5) 9. Point of origin of an earthquake (9) 10. Molten rock (5) 11. Owing money, obligated (2,4) 12. Glove thrown as a challenge (8) 13. Villain, scamp (6) 15. Electronic calculator (8) 18. Tropical foliage plant, often seen indoors (8) 19. Bury, inter (6) 21. Independent senator Nick (8) 23. Narrow passage of water (6) 26. Frank, open (5) 27. Long rambling speech, usually incomprehensible (9) 28. Another proverbially crazy gathering of wildlife (4,2,3,6)

DOWN

1. Painter’s studio or workshop (7) 2. Epic poem by Homer (5) 3. Part of boat showing between deck and surface of water (9) DOWN 4. Old stringed instrument (4) 1. Workshop dined and left , that’s 5. Skilled worker, machinist (8) right (7) 6. The fair sex (5) 2. Epic from 151 in the year of our 7. Opera by Giuseppe Verdi (9) Lord (5) 8. Beginner, one who sets off a race (7) 3. Bit above the waterline costs 14. Magnificent, radiant (9) nothing for food and lodging (9) 16. Pierce, force entry to (9) 4. Report of stolen instrument (4) 5. Drama on the hill – send for the girl 17. Tyrant, sole ruler (8) 18. Posturing dandy (7) in charge of 15 across! (8) 6. To Germaine’s delight, they gained 20. Portable source of electric power (7) victory over the Middle East! (5) 22. New York-based punk rocker, 7. Take an opera, or let it go to pieces (9) … Smith (5) 8. Spanish man consumes French 24. Withdrawn, standoffish (5) pastry as an hors d’oeuvre (7) 25. Monster, goblin (4) 14. Tired out covering advance, but Last week’s solution #22 still beaming (9) D O T T E D L I N E B O M B 16. Make your way in, and babble A H L A U A L A about the electronic web (9) T H E S E U S M I N D I N G U O P C B C V A 17. Tyrant of the motor pool? (8) M A R C H H A R E I N E R T 18. Rooster’s rake, they say – a E A L R E E conceited dandy (7) P I T O N A R S E N I C A L R I T T R L 20. Power source for 28 across? (7) A L C O H O L I C M O O S E 22. Singer Smith’s dad, teetotaller, N E E O A M initially Italian (5) K A R M A I M P O R T A N T 24. Unsympathetic, a backward idiot (5) S E D S P I G U T A B L E A U I N N I N G S 25. Thus ascends Shrek (4)

■ Crossword circa 2008

STARS BY LILITH After a month of indulgence, this week’s Sun and Mercury in Virgo return order to the earthly court with the announcement that it’s time to simplify …

VIRGO THE VIRGIN

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hanges’ – It’s my favourite Bowie song. How do we change? And I don’t just mean personally. I mean as a large community of humans. As a species? Because we have to change. Now. ‘And these children that you spit on, as they try to change their worlds …’ Behaviour change is hard. Our brain is designed to return to old patterns, especially when life becomes stressful. I used to smoke and drink alcohol. Even though I logically knew the links to cancer, heart attack, stroke … I managed to convince myself I was exempt. It was illogical. Knowing the risk didn’t create the behaviour change. I had to commit to doing something hard. I had to find another way. I had to sit with discomfort. Four years on it seems bizarre to me that it was that hard. Because my life is so much better. I feel so much better. But I didn’t know that then. I realised something quite profound, that I didn’t just change my behaviour. I changed. That was personal responsibility. Just one person changing one small thing. How do humans manage this on mass? With every aspect of how they live? The first barrier isn’t even the discomfort of change. It’s how we think. Enter denial. Denial is intoxicating. We have become addictively wedded to destructive behaviours. Like overconsumption. We are horrified by plastic in the ocean, by the plastic in us, but reluctant to do the work. Like banning plastic. Not just bags. All of it. It’s not biodegradable. It’s poison. We go, ‘we can’t do that!’ Plastic is part of nearly every part of the global supply chain. Even plastic comes wrapped in plastic. But there was a time when we didn’t have plastic. And it wasn’t that long ago. Prehistoric humans didn’t have Glad Wrap. But they probably had denial. ‘There’s no such thing as the Ice Age’. Denial functions to stop us being overwhelmed. It’s a defence mechanism. Denial is a way to ignore reality and avoid anxiety. It prevents us making the necessary changes. Climate denial is like smoking while

ARIES: Saturn operating in your sign gives Ariens the opportunity to put their experience into practise and apply the lessons you’ve learnt over time. This week Saturn advises mapping out clear plans and progressive next steps, setting deadlines and, if needed, calling on an experienced mentor for advice and feedback. TAURUS: With uncertainty the new normal, who knows what’s coming up next? Excellent celestial news is the assistance arriving via this week’s practical cycle, to help navigate the chaos of our times with a planetary pace which is agreeably in tune with your natural Tauran rhythm: measured, steady, systematic and sensible. GEMINI: The ever-busy Gemini mind can multitask like nobody’s business, but it’s easily distracted. This week helps focus your awesome mental powers on upgrading living arrangements, prioritising business options and firming up financial plans, so work with it. Bold ideas will need attention to detail before they can proceed.

24 The Byron Shire Echo August 26, 2026

MANDY

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...in the three minutes you took to read this – three million plastic bottles were purchased somewhere on earth. visiting a friend in the cancer ward thinking ‘not me’. In the end, it doesn’t matter what you choose to believe, climate deniers will be left on an unliveable planet too. They just won’t know why. Climate change is delivering not just an unliveable planet, but system collapse. We are hitting peak capitalism, or at least a point where many are acknowledging the failure of a system based on infinite growth in a finite system. But as a species we are catatonic. We don’t know any other way but to continue with growth. To sprint to the cliff edge. We are full flight in collapse. Repeating the same behaviours, expecting different results. We want to be rich. But the cost of one billionaire is hundreds of thousands of people living in their cars. We defend the broken machine because we’ve been brainwashed into believing one day it might be us. But odds are we are more likely to be living in our car. If we can afford one. We think we’re living in a democracy, but it’s actually a casino. And, the casino always wins. Even when it’s burning down.

CANCER: The present astro-cycle’s excellent for organising financial affairs, making practical decisions, and acting on reliable advice. It’s about discrimination, consolidation, stability and efficiency: sensible acquisitions, accurate assessment, precision thinking. Now stop yawning, because Venus also drops some fizzy love and fun into this week’s cosmic cocktail. LEO: As this week’s solar spotlight moves off you hotties, genial game-changer Jupiter, the zodiac’s sugar daddy, visiting Leo for 12 months of fortunate support continues buffing up your personal charisma, and suggests rearranging daily routines to feel much more like the splendid adventures they really are. VIRGO: The radiant sun and your expressive, clever ruler Mercury are both lighting up your sign for Happy Birthday Virgo month, and streamlining your train of thought for maximum peak efficiency. So expect easy hook-ups and tangible pleasures as this week gifts you a grace period of comfortable congeniality.

There are six stages of behaviour change. Precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance and relapse. I just hope as a species we are in relapse. That we can remember who we are, and what it takes to survive, not as resource-sucking parasites on a revolving planet, but as an evolved and aware species in harmony with natural systems. We’re smart enough to develop Artificial Intelligence but not smart enough to save the only home we have. That would be RI. Real Intelligence. In the meantime can I remind you that in the three minutes you took to read this – three million plastic bottles were purchased somewhere on earth. Don’t wait. Change it. ■ Mandy Nolan’s column has

appeared in The Echo for almost 25 years. She is a writer, comedian and artist, is the preselected Greens candidate for Ballina and was the Greens candidate at the past two federal elections.

LIBRA: With Venus in your sign, this week moves creative partnerships and projects forward, stabilising relationships and shared ventures. As new prospects go under the microscope for viability, desirability and practical application, there’s plenty of astral assistance for taking a further step towards clarity by addressing the to-do list.

CAPRICORN: As the celestial weather pattern shifts from dramatic and theatrical to a calmer climate in a fellow earth sign, difficult, demanding people may still be the snag in this week’s otherwise more workable scenario. Handling them tactfully will be your challenge -– as well as not becoming one of them.

SCORPIO: Four outer planets retrograde signify an intense time on planet earth, but who’s better equipped to handle intense than Scorpio? So sink into thinking and acting from the deeper, clearer, calmer, purposeful version of you that’s untangled from the noise of the world and knows what you’re here to do.

AQUARIUS: This week’s Sun/Mercury clash with your sponsor planet Uranus could see some projects take a detour, in which case best keep cool and pick your battles. Stop, breathe, listen to your intuition, then wait until you feel centered and grounded before responding or taking the next step.

SAGITTARIUS: Although progress may not be fanging along quite as swiftly as Sagittarians would like, keep in mind that long-term plans take time to mature and ripen. Meanwhile, this week recommends making some pragmatic adjustments to financial habits – along with revisiting the concept that all the way to heaven is heaven.

PISCES: Listen to the messages your higher mind is giving you. 28 August annual full moon in Pisces, which helps everyone tune into the heartfelt magic of existence, is your personal date for celebrating your creative imagination, artistic spirit and people who inspire you to think beyond current limitations.

www.echo.net.au

Seven

Volume 41 #11 26 August – 1 September, 2026 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

e n t e r t a i n m e n t

Everyone’s welcome at the House of Spaghetti Spaghetti Circus is throwing open the doors of its Mullumbimby home later this month, presenting its 2026 Annual Show, House of Spaghetti, at the Mullumbimby Showground from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August. Five shows over three days, with every student on stage. Each class transforms a different ‘room’ of the house into their performance stage. From the Mighty Ones in the attic to the Mighty Minis in the laundry, each group brings their unique flair. The house comes alive with colour, movement and sequins. All ages take the stage, from the wee Macaronis to the high-flying Performance Troupe. ‘The annual show is where a year of training finally meets an

audience,’ says Director Petrina Hutchinson. ‘There’s nothing like the thrill of live performance. The kids learn about connection, courage and community, and they grow as artists and young people.’ Adults also perform, including Adult Aerials, Circus Fit, Elixir for Life and more, alongside German Wheel, Tumbling and Homeschool Circus students. ‘Circus isn’t just for children—it’s a lifelong adventure,’ says Petrina. ‘The energy and dedication of our adult classes add something really special to the show.’ The production is run by Spaghetti’s teenage students, who take charge of stage management, backstage organisation, ticketing, lighting and sound. ‘Knowing they helped make the whole production

35–43 JONSON ST BYRON BAY 6685 6454 THENORTHERN.COM.AU @thenorthernbyronbay www.echo.net.au

happen gives them a huge sense of pride,’ says Petrina. ‘Spaghetti Circus is a not-for-profit charity, and the annual show is our fundraiser. Every ticket helps us pass the joy of circus on – supporting our community programs, including this year’s intergenerational tour to local preschools and aged care homes. Tickets are sold through Humanitix, with booking fees supporting other charities. House of Spaghetti – 2026 Annual Show is at Mullumbimby Showground, 62 Main Arm Rd, Mullumbimby on Friday, 28 August at 6:30pm; Saturday, 29 and Sunday, 30 August at 11am and 3pm. Bookings via events. humanitix.com/2026-annualshow, adults $30, children $15, family $75.

Brisbane band awake in Byron Don’t let the name fool you – Vancouver Sleep Clinic (VSC), who are returning for their first Australian show in half a decade, are not Canadian! After a tumultuous decade of global touring, sonic exploration, vocational highs and emotional lows that ultimately led to creative burnout and a sense of disconnection from music, this Brissie band is finally coming home. Vancouver Sleep Clinic is set to re-emerge on the scene with a newfound sense of clarity and homegrown self-assurance as they tour ten years worth of music along with their new record Valley of Prime; a collection of ethereal, emotional songs detailing their recent time in creative limbo, and their process of slowly rediscovering a love for music, and joy for life. For what promises to be a long-awaited homecoming, join VSC as they celebrate a return to their roots in intimate venues for four special nights – Friday from 8pm at The Northern, Byron Bay. Tickets from $35 via Moshtix.

THUR 27 AUG

Sarah Grant 5pm Concrete Surfers with support from Wizz 8.30pm Duelling Piano Bar 9pm

FRI 28 AUG

Bulletproof 7pm Lachy Dwyer Duo 10.15pm | Duelling Piano Bar 8pm

SAT 29 AUG

Kane Muir Trio 7pm | DJ Oren Selecta 10.15pm Duelling Piano Bar 8pm

SUN 30 AUG

Dan Hannaford 5pm Vinyl Sundays ft. Eric Downer 8.15pm

MON 31 AUG

Jerome Williams 6pm | Duelling Piano Bar 9pm

TUES 1 SEPT

Marshall Okell 6pm | Duelling Piano Bar 9pm

WED 2 SEPT

Jock Barnes 6pm | Duelling Piano Bar 9pm

LIVE MUSIC EVERY NIGHT

COCKTAILS!

NORTHERN BOTTLESHOP

August 26, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 25

e n t e r t a i n m e n t

They’ve got their trousers on They’re almost here – Baggy Trousers bring ‘Madness’ to Ballina next week! London-born and hailed as the Southern Hemisphere’s premier Madness tribute show, Baggy Trousers brings to life the legendary UK band’s iconic hits in The Sound of Madness and bring the energy, humour and soundtrack of the UK’s golden era to Ballina RSL. Join them for a nostalgia-filled night full of hi-energy, singing, and non-stop dancing to UK party classics, featuring the songs you know and love from Madness, Bad Manners, The Specials, Ian Dury & The Blockheads and many more, this is a full-blown nostalgia party built for dancing, singing and letting loose. Expect classics including ‘House of Fun’, ‘One Step Beyond’, ‘Lip Up Fatty’, ‘Too Much Too Young’, ‘Our House’, ‘Special Brew’, ‘Baggy Trousers’, ‘Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll’ and plenty more favourites from the soundtrack of the ‘80s. Baggy Trousers have built a reputation around Australia and New Zealand for delivering packed dancefloors, big crowd singalongs, and the feel-

Byron’s Philo Café Byron’s long-running discussion group – Byron Philo Café – is inviting members of the general public to join them on Friday, 4 September, at Marvell Hall, to welcome one of Australia’s most respected journalists.

good atmosphere of a proper British party night. With sharp suits, ska rhythms, cheeky banter and a setlist full of timeless UK anthems, the band recreates the spirit of the era that filled pubs, clubs and dancefloors across Britain and beyond.

Whether you grew up with the music, or just love a great night out, this is your chance to relive the sound, style and energy of classic UK party culture. Grab your mates, dust off the dancing shoes and join the party at Ballina RSL this September. Ballina RSL on Saturday, 5 September. For more information visit www.baggy-trousers. com, or for tickets from $45 visit ballinarsl.com.au

Geraldine Doogue AO, will talk on the timely and thought-provoking topic – Joy amid Turbulence: The Search for Voices of Reason and Compassion in Today’s Fractured World. Geraldine is, of course, known for her work over nearly 50 years with the ABC in radio and television, having worked on many programs such as Nationwide, Life Matters, Saturday Extra, Compass, and now in her 70s she co-hosts Global Roaming with Hamish Macdonald. Her work has been recognised with two Penguin Awards, a United Nations Media Peace Prize, a Churchill Fellowship, a Walkley Award, and her appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for services to the community and media. She is renowned for her sharp intellect, warmth, and deep understanding of national and global affairs. Her Byron talk promises insights into the need for leadership from global figures and human rights advocates who use evidence, empathy and peaceful action in dealing with major world challenges. Byron Philo Café has been meeting monthly since 2013, with people making new friends over a meal and discussing a range of thoughtprovoking topics. They find many outside speakers who are happy to talk to the group about their topics of expertise, and then open the meetings up to an audience discussion. Through this format they have managed to nurture group cohesiveness, and maintain high attendance rates. The meeting with Geraldine will begin at 6pm with relaxed socialising, and the talk will begin at 7pm. Entry is $10, paid online via the website, and snacks and drinks will be available for small cash payments. Visit byronphilocafe.org for more information and watch this space for more exciting events!

26 The Byron Shire Echo August 26, 2026

www.echo.net.au

C I N E M A GIG GUIDE WEDNESDAY 26

■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, GUY KACHEL ■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM ALLY PALMER ■ TREEHOUSE, BYRON BAY, 5.30PM JOE CONROY

One Night Only What if one messy night turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to you? Will Gluck, the filmmaker of Anyone but You and Easy A, celebrates modern romantic comedy on the big screen with a fresh, witty, swoony, original film about searching for love on the least romantic night of the year in One Night Only. Academy Award-nominee Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown, Top Gun: Maverick) and BAFTA-nominee Callum Turner (Masters of the Air, Fantastic Beasts franchise) star as Allie and Owen, two love-starved strangers who crash into each other in an ever-so-slightly fictionalised New York City, on the one night of the year when single people are allowed to have sex. Recently dumped Owen and hopeful romantic Allie might be the only two singles in the city looking for more than just a quick encounter. They both feel a spark when they meet, but a series of missteps and side quests complicate their night, keeping them apart. As they each race toward and away from each other across the city, they just might discover that the one thing they want most is closer than they think. The film’s electrifying cast includes Maya Hawke (Stranger Things), Julia Fox (Uncut Gems), indie pop sensation King Princess (Nine Perfect Strangers), Ben Marshall (Saturday Night Live), Ziwe (Baited with Ziwe), and screen legends Molly Ringwald and Levar Burton. Screening this week at Palace Cinemas – www.palacecinemas.com.au.

■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM LACHLAN JAQUES + DUELING PIANO BAR ■ THE PADDOCK PROJECT, MULLUMBIMBY, 4PM CURRY JAM ■ OTTILIES, MULLUMBIMBY, 6PM MONDO HUM JAZZ ENSEMBLE

THURSDAY 27 ■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, JON J BRADLEY ■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM CASS EAGER ■ HOTEL BRUNSWICK 6PM JORDY QUINN ■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 5PM SARAH GRANT + CONCRETE SURFERS W/ WIZZ + DUELING PIANO BAR ■ GARDEN BAR, BYRON BAY, 7.30PM TEMPLE OF FIRE ■ FOXY LUU’S @ COORABELL HALL 5.30PM DJ AFRODISEA ■ SAINT MARIES, BRUNSWICK HEADS, 6PM MONDO HUM JAZZ ENSEMBLE ■ ELTHAM HOTEL 6PM IRISH FOLK JAM ■ LISMORE CITY BOWLO 7PM THE SUPPER CLUB SOUL BAND ■ BROADWATER HOTEL 5PM YARROW ■ MO’S DESERT CLUBHOUSE, GOLD COAST, 7PM C.W. STONEKING ■ COOLANGATTA HOTEL 7PM PAULY FENECH

FRIDAY 28 ■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, SUPERCHEEZE

SATURDAY 29

■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 5PM MILO GREEN + RED BOOTS BAND

■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, RAGGA JUMP ■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 3PM BEN WHITING + DAVE QUENDO ■ BYRON THEATRE 2PM STREETON TRIO ■ NORTH BYRON HOTEL 3PM LACHIE DWYER + JEROME WILIAMS ■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 7PM KANE MUIR TRIO + DJ OREN SELECTA + DUELING PIANO BAR

■ BYRON THEATRE 8PM SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL SHOWCASE 2026 ■ ELEMENTS OF BYRON 5PM CINNAMON SUN

Byron Bay Public School

■ NORTH BYRON HOTEL 5PM DJ DAVE QUENDO

The Great School Art Show Off! Wednesday Wednesday 99September September 4:00pm 4:00pm --6:00 6:00pm pm

■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 7PM BULLETPROOF + VANCOUVER SLEEP CLINIC + LACHY DWYER DUO + DUELING PIANO BAR

Presents

SESSION TIMES

MAIGRET AND THE DEAD LOVER (PG) Fri, Sat, Sun: 1:30PM ADVANCE SCREENINGS

TRUE STORIES (PG)

Mon: 6:30PM CULT VAULT

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCE (AMYL & THE SNIFFERS) (CTC)

Entrance fee by monetary donation

Performances from 4.30pm School Band Stage 2 And 3 Choir Dance Troupe Flash Mob

Fri, Sat, Sun: 3:30PM, 8:00PM 3 DAYS ONLY COMING SOON

FAMILY FILMS MOANA (PG)

■ THE PARK HOTEL, SUFFOLK PARK, 6PM ALEX TILLEY

■ BANGALOW HOTEL 3PM SAM BUCKLEY

■ BANGALOW HOTEL 4PM TONY MANGO

■ HOTEL BRUNSWICK 4PM RAW ORDIO

■ HOTEL BRUNSWICK 4.30PM ERROL H. RENAUD

■ OCEAN SHORES COUNTRY CLUB 3PM OPEN MIC WITH DR BAZ

■ BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 7PM LIOR

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

■ WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 3.30PM DJ VINYL DAN

■ BILLINUDGEL HOTEL 1PM MESCALITO BLUES

■ MIDDLE PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 6PM PIANO BAR WITH JOHN HILL

■ PEARCES CREEK HALL 4PM ESSENCE OF PLACE ■ LENNOX HOTEL 4PM JOCK BARNES

■ BILLINUDGEL HOTEL 6PM JB’S BLUES BREAKERS ■ LENNOX HOTEL 9PM DJ HOGEZ ■ CLUB LENNOX 7PM PISTOL WHIP

■ BALLINA RSL 2.30PM BALLINA BLUES CLUB FEAT FEDERAL BLUES INC ■ RIVERVIEW HOTEL, MURWILLUMBAH, 2PM DAVE CAVANAGH

■ WILLIAMS STREET KITCHEN & BAR, LENNOX HEAD, 5.30PM JOSH LEE HAMILTON ■ BALLINA RSL 6PM GUY KACHEL ■ CHERRY STREET SPORTS CLUB, BALLINA, 8PM PINK ZINC

■ THE CITADEL, MURWILLUMBAH, 4PM THE BIG BIKE FILM NIGHT 2026 ■ CLUB TWEED 1PM ROSE POWELL + HARRY MORRIS

■ HOTEL LISMORE 9.30PM ROCHELLE LEES BAND ■ STONE & WOOD, MURWILLUMBAH, 11AM TV MISERY, HAYLEY GRACE TRIO AND O AND SHAE ■ MURWILLUMBAH SERVICES CLUB 6PM LEIGH JAMES

■ MO’S DESERT CLUBHOUSE, GOLD COAST, 2PM SLOWCUT, THE MATADOR, COLD BLOOD AND WIZARD EYES ■ COOLANGATTA HOTEL 2PM DAVISSON BROTHERS BAND

MONDAY 31

■ M-ARTS, MURWILLUMBAH, 6.30PM MEGA FAUNA ■ RIVERVIEW HOTEL, MURWILLUMBAH, 7.30PM KARAOKE

■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, ALEX TILLEY

■ KINGSCLIFF BEACH BOWLS 1PM JASON DELPHIN ■ SALTBAR, KINGSCLIFF, 5.30PM TIM STOKES

■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM NOAH ROBERTSON ■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM JEROME WILLIAMS + DUELING PIANO BAR

■ CLUB TWEED 7.30PM CHILLI PADI

TUESDAY 1

■ MO’S DESERT CLUBHOUSE, GOLD COAST, 2PM TJAKA, THIRST TRAP, ELLA FENCE, POLLY, YOURS TO KEEP, EIMHIN

■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, ANDY JANS-BROWN ■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM TIM STOKES

■ COOLANGATTA HOTEL 7PM THE JOE COCKER EXPRESS

■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM MARSHALL OKELL + DUELING PIANO BAR

■ CHINDERAH TAVERN 7.30PM THE JACKS

WEDNESDAY 2

SUNDAY 30

■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, MILO GREENE DUO

■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, ALBY PITMAN DUO ■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 4.30PM THE CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL MUSIC SHOW ■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 5PM DAN HANNAFORD + VINYL SUNDAYS FT. ERIC DOWNER

■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM JOCK BARNES + DUELING PIANO BAR ■ BANGALOW HOTEL OPEN MIC WITH SLIM PICKENS ■ OTTILIES, MULLUMBIMBY, 6PM MONDO HUM JAZZ ENSEMBLE ■ ELTHAM HOTEL 6.30PM NOT QUITE FOLK JAM

■ THE PARK HOTEL, SUFFOLK PARK, 5.30PM LUKE BENNETT

BALLINA FAIR CINEMAS

HOLY DAYS (PG)

Thurs, Mon, Tues, Wed: 11:30AM. Fri: 11:15AM

I WANT YOUR SEX (MA15+) NFT

MUTINY

Daily: 5:10PM

PALESTINE 36 (CTC) NFT PAW PATROL - THE DINO MOVIE (CTC) NFT Thurs, Mon, Tues, Wed: 3:45PM, 6:00PM. Sat, Sun: 11:15AM ADVANCE SCREENINGS NOW SHOWING

Online auction with local artists work!

TOY STORY 5

(G)

Sat, Sun: 11:15AM

ALL FILMS & SONS (M) NFT

https://galabid.com/bbpsartshowoff

Thurs, Mon, Tues, Wed: 11:30AM, 3:40PM, 6:00PM. Fri, Sat, Sun: 10:50AM, 3:40PM, 5:30PM

SCAN TO BOOK ONLINE

THE DOG STARS (MA15+) NFT

Thurs, Mon, Tues, Wed: 1:10PM, 4:30PM, 7:00PM, 8:15PM. Fri, Sat, Sun: 1:10PM, 4:30PM, 7:00PM, 8:20PM

Thurs, Tues, Wed: 2:00PM, 4:00PM, THE END OF OAK STREET (M) 6:10PM, 8:10PM. Fri, Sat, Sun: 1:15PM, Daily except Sat, Sun: 11:20AM 4:00PM, 6:10PM, 8:30PM. Mon: 2:00PM, THE INVITE (MA15+) 4:00PM, 6:10PM, 8:30PM Thurs, Tues, Wed: 10:45AM, 1:45PM, INSIDIOUS: OUT OF THE FURTHER (M) 8:30PM. Fri, Sat, Sun: 10:45AM, Daily: 8:30PM 1:45PM, 8:15PM. Mon: 10:45AM, 1:45PM (MA15+)

Daily: 11:00AM

BBPS P & C - food stall

ARTWORK BY INDI AND MAE 5I

e: gigs@echo.net.au w: echo.net.au/gig-guide. DEADLINE 5PM ON FRIDAYS

PALACE BYRON BAY

SPECIAL SCREENINGS THURSDAY AUGUST 27 TO WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 2

www.echo.net.au

■ THE PARK HOTEL, SUFFOLK PARK, 6PM JOCK BARNES ■ BANGALOW HOTEL 4PM THE DEUX OVERS ■ HOTEL BRUNSWICK 6PM C.W. STONEKING ■ BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 7PM THE BIG BIKE FILM NIGHT 2026 ■ OCEAN SHORES TAVERN 5.30PM MUSIC OPEN MIC NIGHT ■ WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 3.30PM DJ TAZ ■ MIDDLE PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 5.30PM BALCONY BEATS + KRAPPYOKEE WITH JESS ■ MULLUMBIMBY EX-SERVICES CLUB 6PM MULLUM OPEN MIC ■ ST JOHN’S SCHOOL HALL, MULLUMBIMBY, 7.30PM ECSTATIC DANCE MULLUM WITH DJ DAKINI ■ MULLUM FARMER’S MARKET, MULLUMBIMBY, 8PM JOE CONROY ■ NATURAL WINE SHOP & BAR, BURRINGBAR, 5PM WAZ AND MIC PORTER ■ PEARCES CREEK HALL 7PM THE HIGH STREET DRIFTERS ■ LENNOX HOTEL 9PM PLEASURE TRIGGER ■ CLUB LENNOX 7PM MILO GREEN ■ AUSTRALIAN HOTEL, BALLINA, 9PM JOE CONROY BAND ■ HOTEL LISMORE 5.30PM ADAM GARDINER + DJ KAZ ■ REGENT CINEMA, MURWILLUMBAH, 5PM FRIDAY SOCIALS WITH TIM HACKAMAN ■ MURWILLUMBAH SERVICES CLUB 6PM PHIL & TILLEY ■ RIVERVIEW HOTEL, MURWILLUMBAH, 8PM BRETT GANNON ■ SALTBAR, KINGSCLIFF, 5.30PM RESONANT HAND ■ CLUB TWEED 7.30PM THE HITMEN ■ MO’S DESERT CLUBHOUSE, GOLD COAST, 7PM IVAN OOZE

IT’S FREE TO LIST YOUR GIGS IN THE GIG GUIDE

Fri, Sat, Sun: 3:50PM, 6:00PM

SENTIENT (CTC) NFT Daily: 1:00PM

SPA WEEKEND (M)

Thurs, Tues, Wed: 10:45AM, 4:00PM, 6:10PM. Fri, Sat, Sun: 10:45AM, 3:15PM, 6:15PM. Mon: 10:45AM, 4:00PM, 8:30PM

THE ODYSSEY (M)

Thurs, Mon, Tues, Wed: 11:15AM, 2:40PM, 7:15PM. Fri, Sat, Sun: 10:45AM, 3:20PM, 7:15PM

THE RIVALS OF AMZIAH KING (M)

Thurs, Mon, Tues, Wed: 11:00AM, 1:45PM, 8:15PM. Fri, Sat, Sun: 11:00AM, 1:45PM

TINA ARENA: UNRAVEL ME

Thurs, Mon, Tues, Wed: 1:45PM, 3:15PM, 6:15PM. Fri, Sat, Sun: 2:00PM, 6:40PM

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY (M) TONY (MA15+) Daily: 10:45AM, 1:20PM, 4:20PM, 7:20PM

(M) NFT

Daily: 1:30PM, 3:50PM, 6:10PM, 8:20PM

FOR ALL SESSIONS TO THE NORDIC FILM FESTIVAL, PLEASE VISIT NORDICFILMFESTIVAL.COM.AU

ANDRÉ RIEU'S SUMMER CONCERT 2026: VIVA MAASTRICHT! (CTC) Sat, Sun: 12:00PM SELLING FAST!

INSIDIOUS: OUT OF THE FURTHER (M) Daily: 5:15PM

MUTINY (MA15+) Daily: 5:15PM

PAW PATROL - THE DINO MOVIE (CTC) NFT

Sat, Sun: 10:15AM ADVANCE SCREENINGS

SPA WEEKEND (M)

Thurs: 11:00AM (BABES IN ARMS), 3:10PM. Fri, Mon, Tues, Wed: 10:15AM, 3:10PM. Sat, Sun: 3:10PM

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY (M) Daily: 9:45AM, 12:45PM, 7:20PM

THE DOG STARS (MA15+) NFT

Daily except Thurs: 12:20PM, 2:45PM, 7:30PM. Thurs: 9:50AM, 12:20PM, 2:45PM, 7:30PM

THE END OF OAK STREET (M)

Daily except Thurs: 9:45AM. Thurs: 1:00PM

THE ODYSSEY (M)

Thurs, Sat, Sun: 3:40PM, 7:00PM. Fri, Mon, Tues, Wed: 11:50AM, 3:40PM, 7:00PM

6686 9600 BALLINA FAIR • 6680 8555 BYRON BAY

August 26, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 27

Classifieds

North Coast news online

ECHO CLASSIFIEDS – 6684 1777 CLASSIFIED AD BOOKINGS

DEADLINE TUES 12PM

PHONE ADS

Publication day is Wednesday, booking deadlines are the day before publication.

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

RATES & PAYMENT LINE ADS: $17.00 for the first two lines $5 .00 for each extra line

Echo Classies also appear online:

DISPLAY ADS (with a border): $14 per column centimetre

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.

These prices include GST.

DISCLAIMER Advertisements placed in The Byron Shire Echo do not reflect the views or opinions of the editorial staff. The Byron Shire Echo does not make any representations as to the accuracy or suitability of any content or information contained in advertising material nor does publication constitute in any way an endorsement by The Byron Shire Echo of the content or representations contained therein. The Byron Shire Echo does not accept any liability for the representations or promises made in paid advertisements or for any loss or damage arising from reliance on such content, representations or promises.

PUBLIC NOTICES Notice of Praecipe

For the record Ayla Constance Eldridge(c) of Stokers Siding, New South Wales is permanently domiciled on the Land and Soil of Terra Australis. I am not a voluntary transactor in commerce, and the paramount security interest holder of all estates, property, assets and collateral, both registered and unregistered, and all associated copyright protected trade names. My lawful Reconveyance to the Land and Soil jurisdiction of Terra Australis, was recorded with Public Recording Number RPP44 63900 05100 46678 76600 on Proclamation Date June 26th 2026. All usufruct subjugation ties have been severed with the occupying corporate government of Australia. The corporate Australian kakistocracy and its affiliates are instructed to immediately cease and desist misaddressing Ayla Constance Eldridge(c) in fraudulent debased DogLatin, GLOSSA and to cease and desist infringing on my estate, property, assets, collateral and copyright protected trade names.

Notice of Praecipe

For the record Aaron Timothy Peter Andrews(c) of Stokers Siding, New South Wales is permanently domiciled on the Land and Soil of Terra Australis. I am not a voluntary transactor in commerce, and the paramount security interest holder of all estates, property, assets and collateral, both registered and unregistered, and all associated copyright protected trade names. My lawful Reconveyance to the Land and Soil jurisdiction of Terra Australis, was recorded with Public Recording Number RPP44 63900 05100 46678 77607 on Proclamation Date June 26th 2026. All usufruct subjugation ties have been severed with the occupying corporate government of Australia. The corporate Australian kakistocracy and its affiliates are instructed to immediately cease and desist misaddressing Aaron Timothy Peter Andrews(c) in fraudulent debased Dog-Latin, GLOSSA and to cease and desist infringing on my estate, property, assets, collateral and copyright protected trade names.

www.echo.net.au/ classified-ads

$17 for two lines is the minimum charge.

Display (box ads) and line classifieds, email:

classifieds@echo.net.au

CLASSIFIEDS THAT WORK ALL WEEK!

Supporting humans of all ages to thrive.

• Sausage sizzle • Hot dogs • Sandwiches • Coffee & tea • Fruit Salad

EVERYONE WELCOME Come one come all and join us in a meal or just a chat. Takeaway most welcome: COVID safe rules apply. Frozen takeaway meals now available.

Stress, sleep, learning, behaviour, posture, muscles, healthy emotions, trauma release & more...

0413 003 301

MULLUMBIMBY

BYRON BAY

Byron Bay Newsagent, Community Centre, supermarkets, cafes, servos etc

28 The Byron Shire Echo August 26, 2026

• Septic tank cleaning • Grease trap servicing • Oily Liquids • Portable toilet hire • 24 hour service

NARNIA NURSERY CLOSING DOWN & HOUSEHOLD GARAGE SALE

Masti Adler

IN MEMORIAM

Individual and Relationship Therapy Accredited Supervision 0403 730 304 awarecounselling.com.au Somatic Pr

Body Base d

Body Based

Psychotherapy

actice

Psychother

Julie Wells

BELLA MAE BOWDEN

apy

Somatic Practice

Dip. Som. Psych. Clinical PA CF A Reg.

Julie Wells Anne Goslett

Individual and Couple Ther Supervision and Coachin apy g

5/8/2007–30/8/2013 * Facilitations (nee Mannix) Pty. Ltd. Although only with us for six sweet Ph: 02 66 85 5185 Dip.Som.Psych, Clinical PACFA Reg. years Mobile: 04 01 277 68 You filled our lives with laughter and Individual and Couple Therapy 8 tears Supervision and Coaching If only we could hold and feel you today (02) 6685 5185 Our love would surround you and 9 Fletcher St, Byron Bay forever make you stay Wrapped tight in heaven’s light, beneath BEETU FULL BODY MASSAGE stars shining bright A divine experience. Nurturing, healing, How we wish to find you our angel, in regen. 28 yrs exp. Lucy 0427917960 dreams at night Rest peacefully our precious child and wait for us darling Until it’s our time to meet again everlasting * Forever loved and missed Yaya and Poppy Graham, Aunty Chrissie and Uncle Kev XXXX 20 years local experience Always remembering Ivy Bowden with Love • 19 inch chipper • Stump grinding XXXX • Cherry picker • Crane truck • Bob Cat

TREE SERVICES

HEALTH

KINESIOLOGY Clear subconscious sabotages.

Fully insured • Free quotes

0427 347 380

HYPNOSIS & EFT

HYPNOSIS & NLP

Over 30 years of experience WendyPurdey.com. Ph 0497 090 233

Everything must go! Huge variety of items including plants, pots, tools, irrigation and nursery equipment, furniture, books and household items. *** Plenty of bargains to be had! *** SALE DATES: THIS WEEKEND! Saturday 29 August 8am-1pm Sunday 30 August 8am-1pm *** ADDRESS: 598 Myocum Rd, Myocum.

Tip Runs & Rubbish Removal

• Arborist • 15” Wood Chipper • Stump Grinder • Fully Insured Byron Bay & Surrounding Areas

6681 3140 Mobile 0417 698 227

Front Office. See our ad page 7

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

1st Byron Bay Scout Group

Volunteers needed. Any age, any skill to continue the adventure. CONTACT SAM AT GL.1stByronBay@nsw.scouts.com.au www.1st-byron-bay.group.scoutsnsw.com.au

Mullumbimby & District Neighbourhood Centre Connecting the Byron Shire Community

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Kitchen Hands - Retail Assistants Drivers and Co-driver Community Support Assistants MDNC is in need of dedicated volunteers to be part of a big loving family. All skill sets welcome. Contact Sylvia Volunteer Coordinator Mon-Fri - 6684 1286

0408 210 772 TO LET

LOCAL REMOVAL

& backloads to Brisbane. Friendly, with 10 years local exp. 0409917646

TO LEASE STUDIO WITH AMENITIES Upstairs, Billinudgel $402pw Ph Lifestyle Group 66851206

SHORT TERM ACCOM.

Room Available 1 Sept. to 19 Nov.

Reprogram patterns and beliefs. Restore vibrancy and physical health. De-stress. 0403125506 SANDRA DAVEY, Reg. Pract.

Simple and effective solutions. Anxiety, Cravings, Fears & Trauma. Maureen Bracken 0402205352

TREE FERNS Any shape, size. Royalties paid. Ongoing supply needed. 0414904396

Bring greater focus, clarity and calm into your workplace. Certified Mindfulness Educator Paul Bibby 0401 926 090

Administration Asistant

WANTED

GARAGE SALES

*** If you live in

Mullumbimby IGA; Mullumbimby Newsagent; Liberty and Carsburgs servos, Echo office stand. ***

EXPERIENCED KITCHENHAND NEEDED AT The Other Joint cafe Email mullum@otherjoint.com

Mindfulness @ Work

Corner of Cherry & Crane. Just behind the Presbyterian Church.

LENNOX HEAD

The Liquid Waste Specialists!

Summerland Environmental

LP RECORDS: good condition, no op shop crap! Matt 0401955052

In the Ballina Presbyterian Hall

IGA Lennox Head, Seagrass Lennox, the Lennox pub drive-through, Station St Grocer Lennox, Epiq Marketplace Hutley Dr Lennox *** Federal Store Main Arm Store Billinudgel Newsagent Billinudgel General Store & Pub Crabbes Creek Store New Brighton Store Ocean Shores Country Club ***

TAXI DRIVERS WANTED Flexible work hours – perfect 2nd income Email operations@byronbaytaxis.com

www.katemessengerkinesiology.com.au

10am to 12pm

BALLINA

Septic Waste Removal

ORCHID SALE

FIRST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH

Richies IGA Ballina, Ballina RSL, One Stop Shop Ballina, Ballina Golf Club East Ballina, Brighton St Takeaway near The Shawsy ***

LADIES WANTED, MUST BE 18+ Work available in busy adult parlour. Travellers welcome. 66816038 for details.

Variety of quality orchids for sale. Friday 4the & 5th Sept, 9am–5pm. 6 Pandanus Court, Brunswick Heads 66851709

COMMUNITY FREE HOT BRUNCH

but outside our current home delivery area, you can pick up an Echo from many locations. For example: Newrybar Providore Newrybar ***

LEAF IT TO US - Tree Care Specialists Local, qualified, insured, free quotes. Big to small we enjoy it all 0402487213

FOR SALE

Prepayment is required for all ads.

NEWRYBAR, LENNOX HEAD, BALLINA MAIN ARM, BILLINUDGEL

POSITIONS VACANT

6687 2880

Cash, cheque, Mastercard or Visa

WHERE TO GET THE ECHO

TRADEWORK

TUITION

Adobe Tutoring

Fully furnished Room with Ensuite 10 mins walk from the Town of Mullumbimby.

Experienced Professional Tutor

$250 per week incl. bills.

• Photoshop • Indesign • Illustrator

Suitable for non smoker Non party person msg Joanne Morrish via FB messenger.

contact@thinkblinkdesign.com www.thinkblinkdesign.com

www.echo.net.au

Classifieds / Community at Work WORK WANTED WORDPRESS WEBSITE CREATION Fair rates info@wordpressit.com.au

PET SITTER AVAILABLE

Kind, confident animal carer available for your four-legged fur baby. References available. Call Pawla on 0415340744

TAMA

Steffie

PETS

SUN, MOON & TIDES

– TIMES FOR NEXT 2 WEEKS DATE DAY, SUN MOON HIGH Aug/ MOON RISE / RISE / TIDES, Sept PHASE SET SET height (m)

LOW TIDES, height (m)

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

6:06 16:36 07:40 1.23 01:57 0.33 27 TH 17:29 5:24 20:09 1.70 13:20 0.26

Free workshops on adolescent neurodiversity

28 F

6:05 17:34 08:16 1.30 02:26 0.28 17:29 5:56 20:42 1.70 13:58 0.23

6:04 18:32 08:55 1.37 02:55 0.24 29 SA 17:30 6:26 21:14 1.67 14:35 0.23

31 M Meet Steffie! Miss sweet and petite is dreaming of a calm and peaceful home.The matchmaker pairs her with someone who loves quiet nights in a tranquil space. Steffie can’t wait to be the centre of attention, no other pets or kids needed. Just imagine her big green eyes looking up at you adoringly as she relaxes nearby. Check out our socials for more clips of big softie Steffie and drop by for a cuddle. DOB 1/01/2024 Desexed, vaccinated. Microchip number: 941000031343132 To make an appointment 0403 533 589 • Billinudgel petsforlifeanimalshelter.net

Like us on Facebook!

6:01 20:31 10:14 1.47 03:56 0.21 17:31 7:25 22:19 1.51 16:00 0.31

6:00 21:33 10:56 1.50 04:28 0.22 1 TU 17:31 7:58 22:55 1.38 16:47 0.40 5:59 22:39 11:44 1.50 05:03 0.26 2 W 17:32 8:34 23:36 1.24 17:44 0.49 5:58 23:47 05:44 0.32 12:39 1.49 3 TH 17:32 9:17 18:57 0.57

4

F

5:57 00:30 1.09 06:35 0.38 17:33 10:06 13:47 1.48 20:32 0.60

5:56 0:55 01:50 0.99 07:45 0.43 5 SA 17:33 11:04 15:11 1.51 22:11 0.55 5:54 1:58 03:30 0.97 09:11 0.42 6 SU 17:34 12:09 16:30 1.58 23:25 0.44

7 M

5:53 2:56 04:55 1.04 10:29 0.36 17:34 13:18 17:34 1.68

5:52 3:45 05:57 1.14 00:17 0.34 8 TU 17:35 14:28 18:28 1.76 11:33 0.27 5:51 4:27 06:48 1.25 01:00 0.25 9 W 17:35 15:36 19:15 1.80 12:29 0.19 Data sourced from Bureau of Meteorology. Times adjusted for Daylight Savings when applicable.

AWL NSW Rehoming Organisation Number: R251000222

CAN YOU SPARE 3 HOURS ONCE A WEEK OR ONCE A MONTH? Every minute of your time helps towards re-homing dogs, desexing dogs, and helping people in desperate situations with housing and difficult home lives. Please call Astro (shop manager) at 0492 861 905 or visit the shop to chat about helping us to help dogs in need

WILLA

www.byrondogrescue.org

Visit friendsofthepound.com to view other dogs and cats looking for a home.

Kaiden Powell and Drew Hanger are some of the speakers that will be at the Caring and Connected Dads event taking place on Saturday, 19 September at the Lismore Regional

Who gives a Cluck? Adopt a Rooster.

We have 18 rescued roosters ready for free adoption to approved homes. All have been health and temperament checked. We guarantee they will be good boys for your flock. Check them all out by this link. whogivesacluck.org/shop/roosters-toadopt/ whogivesacluck.org @whogivesacluck

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! KRYSTAL ADULT SHOP Large variety of toys and lingerie 6/6 Tasman Way, A&I Est, Byron Bay 0416 899 048

Willa is a 8 month old, Belgium Shepherd X. She is a clever girl with a lot of love to give. She would thrive with a family committed to giving her the training, enrichment and exercise she needs. M/C #978142001364159 Location: Murwillumbah For more information contact Yvette on 0421 831 128. Please complete our online adoption expression of interest. friendsofthepound.com/ adoption-expression-of-interest/

alteros.com.au byronbayshibari.com Need proper erotic relaxation? TANTRIC MASSAGE Men, Women, Couples. Ph 0480779325 couplesempowerment.global

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

EMERGENCY NUMBERS AMBULANCE, FIRE, POLICE .............................................000

AMBULANCE Mullumbimby & Byron Bay ................................131 233 POLICE Brunswick Heads .......................................................... 6629 7510 Mullumbimby ................................................................ 6629 7570 Byron Bay ......................................................................... 6685 9499 Bangalow ......................................................................... 6629 7500 STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE Storm & tempest damage, flooding...132 500 BRUNSWICK VALLEY RESCUE Primary rescue........................... 6685 1999 BRUNSWICK MARINE RADIO TOWER.................................... 6685 0148 BYRON CENTRAL HOSPITAL...................................................... 6639 9400 BYRON COUNCIL: EMERGENCY AFTER HOURS ............. 6622 7022 NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE (Mullumbimby) ........................... 6684 1286 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 24 hour crisis line.................................1800 656 463 LIFELINE ...................................................................................................131 114 MENSLINE ....................................................................................1300 789 978 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 24 hours .................................1800 423 431 AL-ANON Help for family and friends of alcoholics .......................1300 252 666 NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS Meets daily ...................................... 6680 7280 NORTHERN RIVERS GAMBLING SERVICE............................ 6687 2520 HIV/AIDS – ACON Confidential testing & information ..................... 6622 1555 ANIMAL RESCUE (DOGS & CATS) ............................................ 6622 1881 NORTHERN RIVERS WILDLIFE CARERS.............................. 6628 1866 KOALA HOTLINE ............................................................................. 6622 1233 WIRES – NSW Wildlife Information & Rescue Service... 6628 1898

The Echo’s Market Guide Find it online: www.echo.net.au/market-guide

MONTHLY MARKETS:

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

ABN 83 126 970 338

MR CAT

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

Mr Cat is a handsome grey-and-white gentleman who is almost nine years old. Calm and independent, he enjoys having people nearby but prefers affection on his own terms. He can be timid with new people and unfamiliar surroundings, so will need patience and time to settle. Quiet and well mannered, Mr Cat would thrive in a peaceful home with someone who appreciates the gentle companionship of a mature, independent cat. Rehoming #R251 00 00 60

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

www.echo.net.au

Byron Youth Service is hosting two free workshops with Jodi Rodgers(Counsellor on the TV series Love on The Spectrum) for parents and carers of neurodivergent youth. Workshop 1 ‘Beginning the Journey to Teenagehood’ explores what adolescence might look like for neurodivergent youth. It is being held in Mullumbimby on Thursday, 24 September from 10am to 12 noon. Workshop 2 ‘Stepping into Adulthood’ shares insights into ways to support nuerodiverse youth navigate life as they move toward adulthood. It is being held in Byron Bay on Wednesday, 30 September from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Bookings are essential, call Sarah on 0494 824 155 or email sarah@bys.org.au

Caring and Connected Dads BBQ

Byron Dog Rescue (CAWI)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

DEADLINE NOON FRIDAY

6:07 15:38 07:03 1.16 01:27 0.39 26 W 17:28 4:49 19:34 1.67 12:43 0.32

6:02 19:30 09:33 1.43 03:25 0.22 30 SU 17:30 6:55 21:45 1.61 15:15 0.26

Tama is a 7mth old girl who is delightfully affectionate once she feels safe. She initially appears timid but within seconds, transforms into a perfect love bug. Her coat is of medium length but lusciously soft & has a tail any fox would be jealous of. Tama is looking for a calm home where she will be regularly brushed. We are sure that in no time at all, Tama will settle into a new loving home To meet TAMA, please visit the Cat Adoption Centre at 124 Dalley Street, Mullumbimby. OPEN: Tues 2.30-4.30pm Thurs 3-5pm / Sat 10am-12 noon Call AWL on 0436 845 542

On The Horizon

Local news matters Who else is going to tell you what happened down the road, congratulate your neighbour, expose the council potholes, and occasionally embarrass your mate? Support your local paper

2nd SUNDAY: The Channon Craft Market – 9am–3pm Chillingham Markets – 8am–1pm Coolangatta Arts & Craft Markets – 8am–2pm Tabulam Community Market – 9am–1pm 3rd SATURDAY: Mullumbimby Community Market – 8am–2pm Murwillumbah Makers & Finders – 9am–2pm Salt Beach Markets, Sth Kingscliff/Casuarina – 8am–1pm 3rd SUNDAY: Federal Village Market – 8am–2pm Uki Buttery Bazaar Market – 8am–2pm Pottsville Beach Markets – 7am–1pm Lismore City Bowlo Markets – 9am–1pm 4th SATURDAY:

Kyogle Bazaar – 9am–2pm

Last SATURDAY: Evans Head Rotary Market – 8am–1pm 4th SUNDAY: Bangalow Market – 8am–2.30pm Nimbin Markets – 9am–3pm Murwillumbah Showground Market – 8am–1pm 4th SUNDAY (in a 5-Sunday month): Coolangatta Arts & Crafts Markets – 8am–2pm 5th SUNDAY: Nimbin Markets – 8.30am–3pm

SEASONAL MARKETS:

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

FARMERS/WEEKLY MARKETS:

Each TUESDAY: New Brighton Farmers Market – 7am–11am Lismore Organic Market – 7.30am–10.30am

Each WEDNESDAY: Murwillumbah Farmers Market – 7am–11am Nimbin Farmers Market – 3pm–6pm Newrybar Hall Twilight Market – 3pm–7.30pm Each THURSDAY: Byron Bay Farmers Market – 7am–11am Lismore Produce Market – 3pm–6pm Each FRIDAY: Mullumbimby Farmers Market – 7am–11am Evans Head Farmers Market – 2.30pm–6.30pm Each SATURDAY: Bangalow Farmers Market – 7am–11am Duranbah Rd Farmers Mkt (Tropical Fruit World) 8am–11am Uki Farmers Market – 8am–1pm Lismore Farmers Market – 7.30am–11.30am Byron Twilight Market (Oct to Apr) 4pm–9pm Each SUNDAY: Ballina Farmers & Producers Mkt – 7am–11am Markets may change their routine without letting us know. Please get in touch to advise us of any changes.

Gallery and Quad from 1.30pm to 3pm. Join them for a BBQ and discussions on parenting and showing up for your kids.

Free legal advice The 13th Pro Bono Cafe hosted by Tyndall & Co will take place on Mondays, 31 August and 7 September at the Roadhouse Cafe, Byron Bay from 9am to 3pm. They provide free legal advice and can cover most areas of law from domestic violence elder abuse, visa issues and other challenging legal issues.

Byron Seniors Club On Tuesdays you can join the free Byron Seniors Club at the Byron Community Centre for drumming from 10.30am, to 11.30am and social tea from 11.30am to 12.30pm. Call the Byron Community Centre on (02) 6685 6807 or email reception@byroncentre. com.au for bookings.

Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens walk On Sunday, 30 August at 10am, there will be a one-hour guided walk in the Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens with Richard. During the 400 Million Year walk, Richard will share the big stories that the gardens can tell us, what the first plants on land were like and what they can show us about the future. This is an easy unpaved walk. Bookings essential at publicity@ friendslrbg.com.au. Adults $5, children free. Wear sturdy shoes and hat. Join us for morning tea after the walk. Gold coin donation appreciated.

Join the digital world If you are a senior, or know someone

who is, who would like to feel more confident in navigating the digital world, be part of the free, fun basic digital skills sessions for seniors at Mullumbimby Library every Wednesday morning and Friday afternoon from September 2 through to December 18. Covering such topics as getting to know your device, using it for entertainment and connection, and staying safe online. Phone us on 02 6684 2992 to book a 40-minute session and learn how we can help you interact in this digital world.

Mullumbimby CWA 2 September is the date for the Land Cookery contest of Mullumbimby CWA branch. This contest is open to all the community. It is not necessary to be a CWA member. The monthly meeting of the branch is on 9 September, at 10am at the CWA Rooms. A light lunch will follow the meeting. New members are always welcome. For more information : contact secretary Jenny on 6684 7282.

Free singing session Do you love to sing? Or perhaps you’d simply like to relax, listen, and enjoy the atmosphere? Together She Thrives is hosting a FREE Love Your Voice singing session with Eve Jeffery from Byron Bay Singing on Tuesday, 1 September, from 10:30am to 12 noon at Memorial Hall, 22 Fingal Street, Brunswick Heads. No singing experience needed and everyone is welcome! Bookings are essential: at togethershethrives.org.au

Bruns U3A Lifelong learning for retired folk in their third age with garden group, foodies, movie and lunch group, men’s shed, French revisited, Scottish folk dance, mahjong, walker’s and talkers, Shabashi, table tennis, chess, debating group, ukelele. Come and join the fun! For info ring Denise 0423 778 573 or email: info@bvu3a.org.

Regular As Clockwork DEADLINE NOON FRIDAY

Please note that, owing to space restrictions, not all entries may be included each week. Email copy marked ‘Regular As Clockwork’ to editor@echo.net.au.

Mullumbimby District Neighbourhood Centre Mullumbimby & District Neighbourhood Centre is open Monday–Friday 9am–4pm (closed 12.30–1.30pm for lunch). We offer a variety of services. Everyone is welcome. Call reception on 6684 1286. Some of our services include: Flood recovery support service: personalised, long-term support for those impacted by the floods. Community support: food parcels, meals, showers, assistance with electricity bills. Work Development Orders. Listening Space: free counselling. More Than A Meal: free community lunch Tuesday–Thursday 12.30–1.30pm. Financial counselling Staying Home, Leaving Violence program: Information, referral, and advocacy. Gulganii affordable pantry shop: located at 3 Bridgeland Lane. Orange Sky: free laundry service Mon morning & Wed afternoon. To enquire about accessing any of these services call reception 6684 1286, check our website www.mdnc.org.au, or follow us on Facebook or Instagram. @ mullumbimbyneighbourhoodcentre.

Byron Community The Byron Community Centre provides community services and programs including meals, advocacy and counselling for locals in need. Fletcher Street Cottage: A welcoming, safe and respectful space where people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness can come to enjoy

practical relief opportunities, find connections and access broader support. Fletcher Street Cottage services are open Tuesday–Friday; breakfast 7am–9am; showers and laundry 7am–12pm; office support 9am–12pm. Individual support appointments with community workers and specialist services available please book on (02) 6685 7830. Fletcher Street Cottage, 18 Fletcher St, Byron Bay. More info: www.fletcherstreetcottage.com. au. Byron Seniors Club: www. byronseniors.com.au. More info on Community Services: www. byroncentre.com.au Phone: (02) 6685 6807.

Low-cost or free food Food Box Thursdays 9.30–11.30am at Uniting Church, Mullumbimby. You may purchase cheap food, obtain free veges, and enjoy a cuppa. The Hub Baptist Church in Ocean Shores has food relief available for anyone doing it tough, please contact us on 0434 677747 if you find yourself doing it tough. No ID or Concession Card required. NILs referral service also available. Check Facebook page The Hub Baptist Ocean Shores for details. Liberation Larder Takeaway lunches and groceries Monday and Thursday 12 till 1pm. Fletcher Street end of the Byron Community Centre.

Carers’ support Mullumbimby Mental Health Carers’ Support Group for family members and friends who have a loved one with a mental health issue. Meeting on 4th Thursday of each month 9.30am at the Mullumbimby Neighbourhood Centre. Info: Susanne 0428 716 431.

August 26, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 29

Service Directory

North Coast news online

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

COOLMAN AIR CONDITIONING 36+ years exp. Lic 178464C AU30147.......................0422 291433 BUILDER Extensions, maintenance, new homes, insurance, landscaping Lic19953Q........ 0403 458177 ARTISAN AIR Airconditioning and refrigeration. ...............................................................66809394 SEA LION BUILDERS: All Building Works / Maintenance Lic #243734C.....................Ph 0407 351720 SKIP AIR: Airconditioning installation, servicing, repairs. Free quotes. 5-star rated......0406 485187 VIDLER BUILT decks, extensions, bathrooms, kitchens, timber fencing Lic 304237c........0413 502281 BUILDER very exp. All aspects: comm/residential + bthrm/ktchn renos Lic348357c.......0483 279644

ARCHITECTS

BUILDER Asher Landini All aspects: building, renovations, extensions Lic498385c...........0488 150778

OCEANARC ARCHITECTS Reg. 6042 www.oceanarc.com.au..........................................0412 251392 TRADIE DAN MULLUM - Building work/repairs under $5k.................................................0410 284550

AUTOMOTIVE

WE PAY FOR

UNWANTED CARS $50–$1500

6684 5296

Free metal drop off Locally owned

SERVICE DIRECTORY INDEX

BUSH REGENERATION & WEED CONTROL

reforestnow.org.au

Bush Regen Tree Planting Native Forest Nursery Weed Management 0461 164 911 enquiry@reforestnow.org.au

THE GREEN WAVE: native reforestation and weed management........................ (John) 0491 117656

Accountants & Bookkeepers.30 Hypnotherapy..................... 31 CARPENTRY & JOINERY Acupuncture....................... 30 Landscaping ....................... 31 Air Conditioning & Locksmith........................... 31 CAR BODY REMOVAL LOCAL CARPENTER small, medium or large jobs. Lic 207899c................................Ph 0431 048856 Refrigeration...................... 30 Painting.............................. 31 ALL CARPENTRY Doors & stairs, all repairs. Reliable. 20 years exp...............................0437 202050 CASH ON THE SPOT GUARANTEE Architects........................... 30 Pest Control........................ 31 BYRON BAY CARPENTRY & CONSTR. Decks, kitchen, bath, laundry. Lic 337421c........0432 549082 $50 – $1000 Automotive......................... 30 Photography....................... 31 WE BUY UNWANTED CARS, UTES & VANS PARRY’S CARPENTRY - Decks, Pergolas, Repairs, Renovations. Licence 491263C. ..Ph 0478 429767 Barber Shops...................... 30 PHONE 0466 113 333 24/7 Physiotherapy..................... 31 EMAIL: enquires@adrians.com.au Blinds, Awnings, Curtains, CLEANING Shutters.............................. 30 Picture Framing.................. 31 Services List Locally owned and Operated Bricklaying.......................... 30 Plastering........................... 32 BARBER SHOPS Plumbers............................ 32 (Low Pressure Softwashing) Residential and Commercial Building Trades................... 30 PENSIONERS/KIDS FROM $25 – ADULTS FROM $30: 6 Brunswick Tce Mullum......0421 679015 Houses, Gutters, Roofs, Awnings, No job too big or small Removalists........................ 32 Bush Regeneration & Weed Solar panels, Retaining walls Obligation free quote Control............................... 30 Rendering........................... 32 BLINDS, AWNINGS, CURTAINS, SHUTTERS Driveways, Paths, Pavers, Fully insured Carpentry & Joinery............ 30 Roofing............................... 32 Fences, Decks, Patios, AQUA PRESSURE CLEANING Pool areas. Cleaning............................. 30 Rubbish Removal................ 32 Computer Services.............. 30 Self Storage........................ 32 LOCAL SHOWCASE DEALER SHOWROOM SUNSCREENS0426 119 550 info@nraquapressurecleaning.com.au ABN: 47576013867 LOCAL SHOWCASE DEALER SHOWROOM Concreting & Paving............ 30 Septic Systems.................... 32 SUNSCREENS Decks, Patios & Extensions..... 0 Solar Installation................ 32 BLINDS SHUTTERS AWNINGS CURTAINS HOT WATER Design & Drafting............... 31 Television Services.............. 32 PRESSURE CLEANING LOCAL SHOWCASE DEALER SHOWROOM Driveway Maintenance........ 31 Tiling.................................. 32 SUNSCREENS LOCAL SHOWCASE DEALER SHOWROOM SUNSCREENS Earthmoving & Excavation.. 31 Tree Services....................... 32 CURTAINS LOCAL SHOWCASE DEALER SHOWROOM CURTAINS 1/84 Centennial Circuit Byron Bay Electricians......................... 31 Transportation Services....... 32 1/84 Centennial Circuit Byron Bay SUNSCREENS ROOF CLEANING & PAINTING • DECK RESTORATION Fencing............................... 31 Upholstery.......................... 32 LOCAL SHOWCASE DEALER SHOWROOM CURTAINS SUNSCREENS Floor Sanding & Polishing... 31 1/84 Centennial Circuit Byron Bay FREE MEASURE QUOTE PLANTATION SHUTTERS Valuers............................... 32 0455 573 554 Garden & Property o mpSlU etR eE raQ ng fE F RnEoEurMcEoA UeOoT PLANTATION SHUTTERSCall or scan today Veterinary Surgeons. . .......... 32 FCRTEAM.AU interior & exterior Maintenance....................... 31 on F oR uE rEcM om p lSeUtR eErQ an gOeTo f CURTAINS E A U E w i n d o w t r e a t m e n t s Water Filters....................... 32 PLANTATION SHUTTERS BETTY’S CLEANING & HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES............................................... Text 0476 984649 1/84 Circuit Byron Bay Gas Fitters, Suppliers & in rmCentennial &pleex terr iogr o n toeur rio co te an e of CURTAINS CURTAINS AWNINGS 32 Servicing............................ 31 Web Design Services........... riotr & tByron ee rn iotrsBay PRESSURE WASH IT WASHING !!! .................................................... Text YOKO 0475040733 w inindtoew r eaetxm 1/84 Centennial Circuit 1/84 Centennial Circuit Byron Bay www.blinddesignbyronbay.com.au window treatments ROLL BLINDS Guttering............................ 31 Welding.............................. 32 CLEAN AND GREEN BYRON residential cleaning. All areas..................................... 0494823880 SPECIALISTS IN HOME AUTOMATION AWNINGS AWNINGS Handypersons..................... 31 Window Cleaning & Repairs.32 www.blinddesignbyronbay.com.au www.blinddesignbyronbay.com.au BLINDSBLINDS ROLL COMPUTER SERVICES ATS UOTEROLL FREE MF ER ASE UE REM QE UO EURE QPLANTATION Health................................ 31 Window Tinting.................. 32 SHUTTERS PLANTATION SHUTTERS nS ouU rR co oE mpo lQ eu tU err an eo n c ogm pflete rang e of FREE MEoA O T E PLANTATION SHUTTERS interior & exterBRICKLAYING ior i n t e r i o r & e x t e r i o r on our compwlinedtoew r a n g e o f One-on-one, patient, experienced treatments w i n d o w t r e a t m e n t s i n t e r i o r & e x t e r i o r ACCOUNTANTS & BOOKKEEPERS teacher offering digital support for AWNINGS www.blinddesignbyronbay.com.au w i n d o w t r e a t m e n t s ROLL BLINDS SPECIALISTS IN HOM E AUTOM ATION AWNINGS seniors needing help with phones, BYRON BOOKKEEPING BAS, Payroll, AR/AP, Xero, QB, MYOB.......................................0415 639548 www.blinddesignbyronbay.com.au laptops and computers. SPECIALISTS IN HOM E AUTOM ATION BOOKKEEPER Reg BAS provider, payroll, A/P, A/R. Xero & MYOB. Local, reliable..........0410 206627 AWNINGS ROLL BLINDS • 20 years’ experience in lintel replacement www.blinddesignbyronbay.com.au BLOOMING BOOKKEEPING and BAS Agent................................................... Ph Leah 0434 121077 ROLL BLINDS

ABSOLUTELY FREE

80 8862 66668 0 8862

Fr quote

6680 8862

SPECIALISTS IN HOME AUTOMATION

6 6 860 8862 6 6 8 0 8 8 2 6680 8862 SPECIALISTS IN HOM E AUTOM ATION

SPECIALISTS IN HOME AUTOMATION

WALLFIX

REMEDIAL

Call: 0403 141 760 • Email: wallfixremedial@gmail.com www.wallfixremedial.com.au Servicing the Northern Rivers Lic no. 292267C Master Builder No. 3029326

BRICK/BLOCK LAYING Contractors. Lic 291958C. Phone Mark.........................................0409 444268

BUILDING TRADES 0431 409 045 • margraf.com.au

ACUPUNCTURE ACUPUNCTURE CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE M Collis..............................................0490 022183

AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION Mullumbimby Refrigeration & Airconditioning Services

45 Manns Road, Mullumbimby Lic: 299433C ARC: AU40492

– Sales – Installation – Repairs – All Commercial Refrigeration – Residential & Commercial Airconditioning – Coolroom Design & Construction – Freezer Rooms

6684 2783

30 The Byron Shire Echo August 26, 2026

• DEPT OF FAIR TRADING: A licence is required for all residential building work where the reasonable market cost of the work to be done (labour and materials) exceeds $5000 (including GST).

B&B Timbers 66867911

110 Teven Road, Ballina New logo - Same quality & service Structural – Landscaping Fencing – Composite Decking Hardwood – Pine – Hardware sales@bbtimbers.com.au

www.bbtimbers.com.au

BUILDER – JOHN MCGAURAN Personalised Service. 20 yrs exp. Lic 170208C........... 0415 793242

Phone or email: 0420 235 624 contact@thinkblinkdesign.com

FLASH COMPUTERS Mac/PC repairs, sales, call-outs 77 Stuart St, Mullumbimby.........02 66844124 THE COMPUTER THERAPIST home callouts, repairs, Wi-Fi, printers, new PC setup......0422 697586

CONCRETING & PAVING

SALISBURY

CONCRETING DARYL 0418 234 302 Over 30 yrs’ local experience. All forms of concreting. Residential • Civil • Industrial

Lic.136717c

• Crack stitching installation • Repointing • Retaining walls and all damaged brickwork

SHAKA CONCRETING Driveways, sheds, slabs, p/ways, patios. Insured & Lic#391742C.....0402 728207 MIRO HALFORD BUILDING DESIGN mirohalforddesign.com.......................................0402 613638

DECKS, PATIOS & EXTENSIONS

HAVEN BUILDING All aspects of building. Lic 326616C................................................0432 565060 BYRON BAY FLOOR SANDING by Chris Wallace. Quality assured. Best prices................0408 536565 CARPENTER / JOINER 30 years experience. Prompt efficient service. Fully insured. Other licensed trades DECK REFINISHING EVANS HEAD Customer satisfaction guaranteed..........................0413 786879 avail, incl plastering/painting etc. 24/7 Emergency 4WD call-out avail. Lic 43794C.........0423 500693 FCR DECK SANDING, OILING Local, 12 years exp. 190x5-star reviews. Free quotes ... 0419 789600

www.echo.net.au

Service Directory DESIGN & DRAFTING

FLOOR SANDING & POLISHING

HYPNOTHERAPY

MIRO HALFORD BUILDING DESIGN mirohalforddesign.com.......................................0402 613638 THE FLOOR SANDER New & old floors, decks, non-toxic finishes, special effects, free quotes..0407 821690 MOONLIGHT HYPNOTHERAPY QHHT, RTT for clarity, healing, insight, purpose. Teresa.0422 179941 HOLM STUDIO architectural drafting & planning services. holmstudio.com.au............0488 216555 LIGHT SPACE DESIGN Interiors + building design. lightspacedesign.com.au...............0421 276996

LANDSCAPING

GARDEN & PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

DRIVEWAY MAINTENANCE oast Asph alt st C Ea

admin@ecasphalt.com.au

ALL ASPECTS OF ASPHALT & BITUMEN SERVICES

Swim Ponds, Landscaping, Water Features, Earth Moving

6677 1859

SERVICING THE EAST COAST OF THE NSW NORTHERN RIVERS Burringbar

0448 401 638 MULLUM.MOWING@gmail.com. Ride-on, large lawns & acreage. Ph Peter.................0423 756394 GUTTERS CLEANED Solar panel cleaning, all areas, free quotes, fully insured..66841778 or 0405 922839

MC2 RURAL Earthmoving, mulching, camphor/weeds, property maintenance............ 0427 900701 A-Z Garden maintenance, acreage, gutters, rubbish removal, tip runs, top jobs...................0405 625697 LEAF IT TO US Tree care specialists & acreage mowing...................................................0402 487213

EARTHMOVING & EXCAVATION

TIP RUNS & RUBBISH REMOVALS 4m3 trailer..............................................................0408 210772

TINY EARTHWOR

RICK’S PROPERTY MAINTENANCE Mowing, brushcutting, gardening, hedging..........0424 805660 GREEN DINGO for all your mowing and gardening needs. Ph Michael..........................0497 842442 BLADE RUNNER ACREAGE MOWING Local, reliable.....................................................0428 856687

Landscaping, Vegetation Control & Earthworks

• General Landscaping • Vegetation Control • Excavations & Civil Residential

Call Paul 0403 316 711 gracewoodlandscapes.com.au Lic 474317C

BRUSH–CUTTING Whipersnip, clearing saw, light chain saw.................................Rob 0455 587425

Philip Toovey

0409 799 909

NORTHERN RIVERS SLASHING & LANDCARE.......................................... Call Keni on 0417 509299 GW MOWING Ride-on /acreage. Tip runs...............................................Call George on 0408 244820 GROWING WELL gardens residential lawns, hedging and design. 20 years experience ..0413 459545

various implements available for limited access projects

THE GREEN WAVE: Eco property and garden care ............................................... (John) 0491 117656 COAST & COUNTRY Acreage mowing, prop. maintenance, prof. reliable service.... Mike 0413 812582

GAS FITTERS, SUPPLIERS & SERVICING

CONSCIOUS EARTHWORKS

• DRAINAGE DESIGN • DRIVEWAYS • PADS • WATERWAYS • ALL ASPECTS OF EARTHMOVING

Free Delivery No Rental Reliable

LEMONTREELANDSCAPES.COM.AU Liam. Lic 277154C...............................................0423 700853

LOCKSMITH Brendan Duggan Locksmith. Automotive car keys and lock installation/repair........0412 764148

Phone Zac: 0468 344 939 www.360earth.com.au Drainage Consultation & Installation Landscaping Install & Supply

5T Excavator & Skidsteer 8 Tonne Tipper

Retaining & Rockwalls

PAINTING www.brunswickvalleygas.com • 0408 760 609

Attachments:

Bulk & Green Waste Removal

Rock Grabber, Auger

All Earthworks Requirements

350/450, Compactor

BEN - 0499 985 555 License 479630C. Fully Insured.

NORTHERN RIVERS TRENCHING 65hp chain trencher, excavator, cable locating & tpr..0402 716857 ANDREW FLANAGAN CONCRETING & EXCAVATION Lic 310498C................................0401 968173

ELECTRICIANS

Locally Owned No Rental Fees Servicing your area Free Call: 1300 727 013 Email: swapabottle@bigpond.com

DOMESTIC ALL JOBS: SMALL COMMERCIAL OR LARGE 24 HOUR SERVICE Lic: 154293c

•30+ Years Experience •Interior & Exterior •Reasonable Prices 0451 298 363

splosh painting/decorating

HOUSEHOLD PAINTING inside/out. Northern Rivers - 10 years exp..............................0488 278220

PEST CONTROL

GUTTERING ✔ Gutter guard ✔ Gutter cleaning ✔ Locally owned ✔ Fully insured ✔ Free quotes

0439 624 945 AH 02 6680 4173

Professional Painter/Decorator

Call Junior for friendly, genuine advice and service.

www.spotlessgutters.com.au

0405 922 839 or AH 6684 1778 ABN 94 239 089 086

Book our Termite Inspection & Pest Control package this winter and receive 10% off. Protect your home and save money with this limitedtime offer! Contact us today to schedule your appointment. Phone 02 6685 4490 • Email: service@sanctuarypest.com.au BRUNSWICK BYRON PEST CONTROL.................................................................................66842018

HANDYPERSONS

PHOTOGRAPHY

HANDY ANDY Carpentry, plastering, welding.......................................... 66884324 or 0476 600956 AWESOME REPAIRS Professional, commercial & domestic. Wayne................................0423 218417 ABSOLUTE HANDYMAN Repairs, renovation, maintenance, painting. Call Mark..........0402 281638 A HANDY GUY All trades & small construction. Bruns, Ocean, SGB & Mullum................0411 858201 PFM HANDYWORKS Repairs, pressure cleaning, maintenance.......................Call Aari 0484 729139 HOME MAINTENANCE Carpentry, painting, repairs, gardens, jet washing. Insured......0434 705506 JP ELECTRICAL All electrical. Level 2 ASP. Solar, data, TV, TV Antennas. Lic 133082C.....0432 289705 HIGHPOINT Repairs & handyman services. Painting, plastering & tiling......... Michael 0421 896796 BEN FORSYTH, Electrician. Lic:240691C. Ocean Shores & surrounds. No job too small....0422 136408 ALL CARPENTRY Doors & stairs, all repairs. Friendly, reliable. 20 years exp...................0437 202050 JIM LABELLE ELECTRICAL O.Shores, Mullum, Byron, Bruns. Lic 176417C........................0415 126028 AW WOODWORK Furniture, kitchens, carpentry, handyman services. Call Adam.........0455 813965 ATLEE ELECTRICAL Lennox/Ballina/Byron. All jobs Lic125138C........................................0499 456558 HANDYMAN 40 years experience in the building game. Call Paul..................................0422 017072 TOPAZ ELECTRICAL. All electrical work. Reliable. Lic No. 461605C............................. Ph 0421 707380 ALL ASPECTS handyman and maintenance work. Free quotes......................................0413 289443

FENCING

HEALTH

Tree Faerie Fotos Professional • Commercial • Personal 30+ years experience in commercial photography and photojournalism

www.treefaeriefotos.com • 0417 427 518

PHYSIOTHERAPY OCEAN SHORES PHYSIOTHERAPY Manual therapies, dry needling, custom orthotics, shock wave therapy, real time ultrasound. Nigel Pitman......................................................66803499

BYRON & BEYOND FENCING. Any fence, any time, prompt quotes......0439 162 069 or 66802393 ACUPUNCTURE & COSMETIC MEDICINE Dr Adam Osborne............................................66857366 PELVIC FLOOR PHYSIOTHERAPY Bangalow Mon & Wed. Lisa Fitzpatrick.....................0422 993141 EDL FENCING Installations & repairs. Prompt service. ...................................................0432 107262 MULLUMBIMBY HERBALS Naturopathic and herbal dispensary, consultations...............66843002 FLOW FENCING Pool fencing, timber/colourbond, local, professional and reliable........0416 424256 AYURVEDA, NATUROPATH, Herbs, Jacinta McEwen – Om Healing...............................0422 387370

PICTURE FRAMING

TOM’S FARM MAINTENANCE Fencing, orchards, cattle work. Experienced & reliable..0412 860132 MASSAGE THERAPIST Sports, remedial, Swedish, relaxation. ................Contact Mark 0448 441194 MULLUM PICTURE FRAMERS Studio located in Ocean Shores...................................0403 734791

www.echo.net.au

August 26, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 31

PLASTERING

RUBBISH REMOVAL

Martino TREE SERVICES

PLASTERER, TRADE QUALIFIED repairs, renovations, cornices, quality assured. .Kurt 0431 015414 TIP RUNS & RUBBISH REMOVAL 4m3 trailer.................................................................0408 210772 CAPE BYRON PLASTERING. Gyprock/Venetian. 27 yrs exp, free quotes, lic + insured.. 0402 538155 TIP RUNS & RUBBISH REMOVAL 7m3 trailer. Prompt, reliable service.........................0413 289443 PLASTERING cornices, partition walls, water damage repairs etc Guaranteed quality. 0413 338203 BYRON SHIRE Rubbish and furniture removals. ................................................. 0415 139308

PLUMBERS

Ben The Plumber

Servicing Mullumbimby, Ocean Shores, Brunswick Heads, Byron Bay & Surrounds 30 years’ experience Lic: 321191C

SELF STORAGE BYRON BAY SELF STORAGE................................................................................................66858349

SEPTIC SYSTEMS TRINE SOLUTIONS Local sewerage specialists. Plumbers, drainers & gas fitters. Lic 138031C.. 0407 439805

Taking on work NOW! 0427 528 108 | benwilton74@icloud.com

SOLAR INSTALLATION Serving Northern NSW since 1998

 CCTV camera and locators

Byron Bay & Beyond

0435 019 524

TREE CARE SPECIALISTS • Local • Reliable • Insured

• 4×4 truck with 19” chipper • Qualified local arborists • 120 ★★★★★ Google reviews

0402 487 213 leafittous.com.au • kascha@leafittous.com.au

 High pressure jet rodder  Electric eel Drain clearing, inspections and repairs. Reliable family owned and operated local business with 30 years plumbing experience and the latest technology.

Phone James 0429 888 683

Your local, qualified team

 1.7t and 3m tipper truck

Specialists in standalone and grid interact system designs

 Blocked drain specialist  12 month guarantee on most jobs  Fully insured

0428 320 262 sunbeamsolar.com.au team@sunbeamsolar.com.au

Lic 378040C

TELEVISION SERVICES

MARK STRATTON All plumbing & emergency. Sewer drain camera/locator. Lic 57803C.....0419 019035 BRAD EVELEIGH PLUMBING based in Ocean Shores, no job too small. Lic 257153C.........0438 140075 DAVE SPARKES Plumber Byron based, call out $110 incl. first hour. Lic209669C..............0418 167074

REMOVALISTS

17 Years Experience as an Arborist Experienced crew ready to go. Free Quotes |Insured |Amenity Tree Pruning Removals |Chipping |Block Clearing Council DA Assistance if required

Call Sam 0456 044602

DIGITAL ELECTRONICS REPAIR & SERVICE TV. Audio. Antennas........... 66843575 or 0414 922786 INSTALL SERVICE: TV, Wi-Fi, AV, special pensioner/concession rate. ............ Damian 0414 741233

TILING

SHIRE REMOVALS & FREIGHT CO WALL & FLOOR TILER/WATERPROOFER/STONEMASON Lic 24418C. ............Ph Karl 0439 232434 From Middle Pocket to Middle Earth Just give us a ring

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

• Freight services to Brisbane weekly • Carriers of fine art • Furniture removal • E-bay pick up & delivery

BYRON BUS Co-

LEAPFROG REMOVALS BYRON BAY’S LOCAL REMOVALIST MOVING THE SHIRE FOR OVER 10 YEARS

LEAF IT TO US 4x4 truck/chipper + crane truck. Local, qualified, insured. Free quotes........0402 487213

Airport Transfers | Tours | Nights Out | Beach Walks Events | Parties | Weddings | Corporate | Festivals

OUT ON A LIMB TREE SERVICES Lucas Holland qualified arborist..........................Luc 0402 191316

Get a Quick Quote Now

TREE SERVICES

0432 334 200 02 6680 8170 leapfrogremovals@yahoo.com.au

CHOPPY CHOP TREE SERVICES

MULLUM VET CLINIC: Richard Gregory, Bec Wills, Heidi Jenal. After hours avail...............66843818

The Water Filter Experts

Y

RYAN’S MINI MOVES....................................................................................................0406 657 755 CM

for home, commercial and rural properties

MY

RENDERING / SOLID PLASTERING 25 years experience. Free quotes............. Ph John 0406 673176 CY

6680 8200 or 0418 108 181

CMY

K

FCR ROOF PAINTING Local, 12 yrs exp, best paints avail, 190x5-star reviews. Free quotes.0455 573554

Metal Roofing & Guttering Experts

WEB DESIGN SERVICES

Serving from Ballina to Gold Coast.

PRUNING ~ REMOVALS ~ STUMP GRINDING • 20 years local knowledge and experience • Fully insured / free quotes • 19 inch chipper • Bobcat • Cherry picker • Crane truck

www.harttreeservices.com.au

www.oceanbluepr.com.au License # QBCC: 15327621 NSW: 381929C

BLUE SKY ROOFING NSW Roof repairs Replacements

Gutters Downpipes

0450 659 114

Lic No. 304784C

32 The Byron Shire Echo August 26, 2026

NORTH COAST VETERINARY SERVICES Dr Lauren Archer..................................................66840735

WATER FILTERS

M

0429 909 433

VALUERS

Mark Linder Qualified Arborist

BENNY CAN MOVE IT!..................................................................................................0402 199999

admin@oceanbluepr.com.au

BANGALOW UPHOLSTERY Now at Billinudgel. Re-covering specialists..............................66805255

VETERINARY SURGEONS

choppychoptrees@bigpond.com

- A Lifetime Warranty on Workmanship - Double Satisfaction Checks - Spotless Work Sites, Every Time

UPHOLSTERY

BYRON BAY VALUERS NSW & QLD registerd. Chartered Valuers............. 0431 245460 or 66857010

C

ROOFING

THREE TREES AQF Level 8 Consulting Arborist. Call Lisa...............................................0427 959 835

• Stump Grinding • Bobcat • Cherrypicker • Crane Truck • 18" Chipper

02 6684 2198 queries@mullumbimbyremovals.com.au

RENDERING

LOCAL TREE GUYS 15m crane truck. 18 inch chipper. Bobcat..............................Jason 0488 489159

The Fully Insured Professionals

0408 202 184

• Sydney • Gold Coast • Brisbane • Melbourne • North Qld • Country • Interstate • LOCAL

BYRON TREE SERVICES AQF Level 5 consulting arborist, insured....................... Call Alex 0402 364852

0490 183 424

arrive@ byronbuscompany.com.au

88

0409 917 646

Door to Door Charter Services

0427 347 380

ALL AREAS OF THE NORTHERN RIVERS & SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND

0401 208 797

• Professional Tree Removal, Surgery & Maintenance • Stump Grinding • Weed Control • Arborist Reporting & Consultancy • EWP Cherry Picker Hire • Mulching of Green Waste • 24 Hour Emergency Call-Out • Professional, Reliable Service

NEED A WEBSITE? We build fast, affordable, tailored websites for your needs. Contact us today info@websitesbywednesday.com.au | www.websitesbywednesday.com.au.................0468 345742

WELDING WELDING & FABRICATION Structural, General, Repairs: Steel, Aluminium & Stainless...0408 410545

WINDOW CLEANING AND REPAIRS CLEAN VIEW Prompt, professional, insured. Phone David..............................................0421 906460 NO STREAKS ATTACHED Local, experienced, friendly, insured.......................................0431 398358

WINDOW TINTING SURFWAGON - Car/Home/Office tint. Lifetime Warranty. W/sale price..........................0434 875009 SUNRISE window tinting, mobile Byron+ N. Rivers. Cars, homes, offices, etc...............0412 158478

www.echo.net.au

Property Insider

www.echo.net.au/echo–property

Where wedgetail eagles soar – an extraordinary dualresidence opportunity in Kunghur Set across 1.42 elevated hectares, this magnificent property is a space people spend a lifetime searching for – two beautifully renovated Queenslander residences, dedicated work pods, a heated magnesium pool and a stargazing spa, all wrapped in birdsong, and framed by uninterrupted 360-degree views. Rarely does this much lifestyle, opportunity and beauty come together on one address. Flocks of black cockatoos wheel overhead, wedgetail eagles ride the thermals, and a family of wallabies shares the land at dusk. The air is clean and still, the water pure, the light pours in from every angle, and at night the stars arrive without a trace of light pollution. Be prepared to fall hard for this property – once you arrive, you’ll never want to leave.

A Queenslander full of character and light Relocated and lovingly restored, the main residence is a genuine showpiece – wide hardwood floors run underfoot, VJ walls are styled rustic and authentic, art deco light fittings glow throughout, a nod to the home’s history that pairs beautifully with its modern comforts. The master suite opens through French doors onto the entrance deck, the perfect spot

for morning coffee over the bucolic view, with leadlight windows and a stylish ensuite with separate toilet completing the retreat. Two further bedrooms are generous and light-filled, each looking out over the garden; and air-conditioning runs throughout, including every bedroom. The kitchen is where the home’s character truly shines – pressed-tin splashbacks, a large pantry with pressed-tin doors and a bespoke overhead vintage cupboard and stone bench

Your own private escape, or an income stream waiting to happen A second beautiful three-bedroom Queenslander offers open-plan living, timber floorboards and its own art deco lighting throughout. A

separate entrance leads to an additional room, kitchenette and bathroom – instantly selfcontained, and full of possibility. Located with enough breathing space from the main residence, this home has many options. Lease it out permanently for a steady income stream, list it as a vacation rental for weekenders chasing the hinterland lifestyle or keep it close as a private space for extended family – everyone living on the one property, but each with a door of their own. However you use it, this is flexibility most properties simply can’t offer.

•Two fully renovated Queenslander residences • Art deco features and leadlight windows throughout • Heated magnesium pool with seamless glass fencing • Outdoor spa for stargazing nights • Three versatile work pods, one soundproofed • Copper claw-foot bath with panoramic views • Three-bay shed with solar and EV charger • Dual living and income potential • World Heritage rainforest on the doorstep.

Highlights

■ Contact Julie-Ann Manahanon

• 1.42 elevated hectares with uninterrupted 360degree views

+61 4 1108 1118 jam@manare.au.

Did you know? Not only does The Echo have fantastic circulation and distribution figures, it also has the most attractive, interesting and talented readers. Telling it like we think it is since 1986.

17 & 19 Stanley Street, Maclean

The Old Maclean Brewery – A Rare Piece of Maclean History Just 20 mins to Yamba and 1 hour to Ballina Byron airport, the Old Maclean Brewery set across two separate titles, is a remarkable heritage property with more than a century of history. Established as the Clarence Brewery in 1881,brewing ceased in 1902, after which the property became a dual residence and later a boarding house. Today, the property retains many original heritage features, including high ceilings, polished timber floors, wide verandahs, decorative cast-iron lacework and its distinctive grand arched entrance. Adding to its uniqueness are eleven original underground brewery cellars,offering a fascinating glimpse into the building’s brewing past. Restored during the late 1970s and recognised by the National Trust of Australia, The Old Clarence Brewery remains one of the Clarence Valley’s most significant and recognisable heritage properties. Located in central Maclean, it presents a rare opportunity to own a significant piece of local history. Contact Travis McConnell on 0407 450 007 to arrange an inspection.

02 6645 2222 | reception@myi.rh.com.au | rh.com.au/macleanyambailuka

www.echo.net.au

August 26, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 33

23A GORDON STREET, BYRON BAY

Private Luxurious Villa - Moments from Byron’s Beaches 2

1

2

1

• Boutique complex of only two freestanding villas • Stunning Balinese-style villa offering resort style living

Su Reynolds 0428 888 660

• Zoning allows for holiday letting year round or a permanent home • Covered alfresco patio and outdoor dining setting • Heated, mineral pool with a sunken spa nook • Secure compound villa with 100% privacy

Anna Gilham 0402 128 355

• Private off street parking

PRICE | Contact Agent OPEN | By Appointment

3/79 RAJAH ROAD, OCEAN SHORES

Elevated Two-Bedroom Home Moments from the Beach 2 170.6M

1

1

1

2

• Peaceful & private - moments from conveniences

Sally Green 0488 030 116

• Filled with natural light, warm timber floors • Covered outdoor deck overlooking the beautifully established gardens • Single lock-up garage offers generous additional space for storage or a workshop • Walk to Ocean Shores Shopping Centre

Jasmin McClymont 0434 029 668

PRICE | $780,000 - $855,000 OPEN | Sat 29th Aug 10 - 10:30am

Private Hinterland Sanctuary, Moments from Federal Village

6 ROSES ROAD, FEDERAL

4 4986M

2

3

7

2

• Elevated position with sweeping Hinterland views. • Spacious open plan living with picture windows that frame the landscape.

Luke Elwin 0421 375 635

• Beautifully appointed entertainers kitchen, with custom cabinetry. • Perfect balance of privacy and tranquility, with Federal village only 3 min walk. • Approved studio with private entrance.

Jane Johnston 0466 327 375

PRICE | $2.2M - $2.4M OPEN | By Appointment

6/1-5 KEATS STREET, BYRON BAY

Resort Style Living in a Rainforest Setting 3

1

2

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712M 2 • Tucked within the coveted ‘Byron Botanica’ ecodevelopment • Beautifully curated interior with organic textures, recycled timber and artisan touches • North and east facing balconies

Jane Johnston 0466 327 375

• Salt or magnesium plunge pool • Thoughtfully designed for sustainable living

PRICE | $2.2M - $2.42M OPEN | Thur 27th Aug 11 - 11:30am Sat 29th Aug 11.30am - 12pm

www.byronbayfn.com.au | sales@byronbayfn.com | 35 Fletcher St, Byron Bay NSW 2481 | 02 6685 8466

34 The Byron Shire Echo August 26, 2026

www.echo.net.au

Property Business Directory AGENTS

FINANCE

TARA TORKKOLA SALES

0423 519 698 tara@byronbayfn.com @taratorkkolafirstnational

Your bank isn't on your side..

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

@taratorkkola_realestate www.byronbayfn.com.au

We are.

Scan to book a home loan consultation today

Call today for an obligation free chat 0418 123 393

PAUL PRIOR SALES

0418 324 297 paulprior@byronbayfn.com BYRON BAY AGENT OF THE YEAR Damien Smith Sales Director Ray White Byron Bay www.rwbyronbay.com

SALES

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

0408 659 649 sharon@byronbayfn.com

JANIS PERKINS

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

CONVEYANCING BUYING and SELLING REAL ESTATE? We are here to help

NPC

NOW OPERATING OUT OF CENTRAL OFFICE IN POTTSVILLE Lic No 06000098

The Shire’s local finance expert Home Loans Investment Loans First Home Buyers Car Loans

Debt Consolidation SMSF Lending Commercial Loans Development Funding

Russel Shaw Finance Broker

NP CONVEYANCING PERSONALISED APPOINTMENTS IN BYRON BAY NOW

Australian Credit Licence 475676

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

SHARON McINNES

PHONE 6685 7436 FOR A QUOTE

entourage.com.au | (02) 6678 1751 Office | 3/6 Jonson Street, Byron Bay NSW

russel@acceptancefinance.com.au 0412 833 280

NSW & QLD Conveyancing, Leases, Business Sale & Purchase

Acceptance Finance Australia Pty Ltd ABN 20 678 011 571 Australian Credit Licence Number 391715 Credit Representative Number 395628

P: 02 6687 0548 | hello@bangalowconveyancing.com.au

View open for inspection listings online: www.echo.net.au/ofi

www.echo.net.au

August 26, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 35

Backlash ‘I was made for another planet altogether. I mistook the way.’ – Simone de Beauvoir

Native Plant Nursery & Gift Store Right in the heart of Mullumbimby!

Discover a beautiful range of Native Plants

Native Botanicals, Books, Candles, Bush Foods, Jewellery, Local Art, Oils, Incense, Gifts, Indoor Plants, Handmade Felt and much more

59A Burringbar St, Mullumbimby

Down the laneway next to Rock and Roll Cafe

misstree.com.au 0448974421

Volume 9 ~ 2026-2027 Your free guide to the flourishing health and wellbeing industry of Byron and the Northern Rivers

Latest magazine and website refresh

OUT N OW!

www.byronhealing.com.au

Watch out for a little furry love as koala breeding season gets underway. Motorists and dog owners are being asked to take extra care as these normally solitary marsupials start roaming further afield between August and December in search of mates and new territory. Read more in The Echo online: www.echo.net.au. The ties of former prime minister and current Liberal Party Federal President Tony Abbott, and current Leader of the Opposition Angus Taylor, to the controversial Plymouth Brethren Christian Church remain under scrutiny after Taylor defended arranging $33,000 in federal government funds for the religious group. According to The Age, ‘The church ran an undisclosed multimillion-dollar pro-Peter Dutton campaign at the last election which included paying neo-Nazis and other far-right figures to disrupt campaign events’. After a platypus was found dead with a large fishhook embedded in its body in Coomera River, fisher people are being reminded of the importance of keeping waterways free from discarded fishing equipment and rubbish. The North Coast of NSW has significantly higher melanoma rates than the state average. Ballina, Lismore, and Byron Bay local government areas are among the top melanoma hotspots nationally. Healthy North Coast has just

The sculptural work of Gudrun Klix, at the Koonyum Clayworks studio, explores our connection to land. Her studio was open as part of last weekend’s North Coast Mud Trail. Photo Jeff ‘My Name Has Been Dragged Through The Mud’ Dawson awarded more than $345,000 in grants to 25 local general practices to strengthen early intervention for skin cancer. So remember to get your skin check done regularly. The hardest substance in the human body is tooth enamel and it doesn’t regrow if damaged. But scientists have developed a gel that mimics the proteins that build enamel and are hopeful that by next year they will have brought the product to market, according to www. popularmechanics.com. In the ever-ingenious world of drugs and jails, a man was recently charged by Queensland police after a drone dropped a package containing over $1 million of illicit drugs and utensils inside the Townsville Correctional Centre.

SWIMART BYRON BAY IS HERE. Pool and spa care, right here in the Byron Industrial Estate. Local advice. Everything for your pool. Call us for expert advice and service.

SWIMART BYRON BAY

Byron Industrial Estate 1/6 Centennial Cct, Byron Bay

0448 278 826

Wine Store

WINE & CHEESE TASTINGS EVERY FRIDAY · 3PM–6PM 0427 021 829 78 Burringbar St, Mullumbimby NSW 2482 www.nonnieswinestore.com

NATURAL WINE · ARTISAN SPIRITS · CRAFT BEER · DELI GOODS 36 The Byron Shire Echo August 26, 2026

www.echo.net.au