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Byron Shire
March 28, 2024

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Latest News

Man charged over domestic violence and pursuit offences – Tweed Heads

A man has been charged following a pursuit near Tweed Heads on Monday.

Other News

Adaptive Surf Pro winds up in Byron

A week of mixed weather had seen almost 100 adaptive surfers take on the beaches of Byron Bay in the Byron first international adaptive surfing event to be held in Australia – the 2024 Australian Pro.

Govt cost-shifting ‘erodes financially sustainable local government’

Byron Shire Council looks set to add its voice to the growing chorus calling on the state government to stop shifting responsibilities and costs onto local government.

Fresh air federal funds for Northern Rivers schools in need

Eighteen schools in the Northern Rivers division of Richmond have received $25,000 each as part of the federal government’s School Upgrade Fund, Labor Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said last week.

Roller derby rocks the Cavanbah Centre

The Red Kennedys have once again dominated the Northern Rivers Revolt Roller Derby Tournament held at the Cavanbah Centre over the weekend of March 16-17.

Wild dog breeding season can increase attacks on domestic dogs

Local Land Services are reminding landowners to be aware of wild dogs as they have received five reports of domestic dogs being attacked and killed by wild dogs in the last two months.

How the coral crisis affects other marine wildlife

Marine heatwaves are killing coral and denuding reefs of their colourful beauty – but in a world where everything is food for something else, these heatwaves also pose a major threat to biodiversity.

https://youtu.be/sc3j_FHzzmc

You just can’t beat a simple story told well – not that simplicity need necessarily be divorced from profundity.

Australian filmmakers Martin Butler and Bentley Dean have taken their crew to one of the islands of Vanuatu and, with local tribesmen and women as their cast, produced a remarkable movie in which a compelling narrative is closely attuned to the murmurings of the heart. It’s all about love, with an echo of Shakespeare’s star-crossed teenagers underpinning the drama.

Wawa has come of age. She is a beautiful girl being prepared for the duties and responsibilities of the traditional ways – which includes being offered to another tribe in an arranged marriage. But Wawa wants to go her own way, for she is in love with Dain, the chief’s handsome grandson. Whatever the youngsters lack in acting experience is more than made up for by their magnetic presence and a naturalness that is impossible to fake – Dean’s camerawork is especially good at highlighting the emotions, from joy to turmoil, that fleet across his characters’ faces.

Likewise with Wawa’s mischievous little sister, Selin – the scene in which we catch her crying is as intense as any you might expect from a Hollywood veteran. As in Romeo and Juliet, there are feuding parties involved and it’s when Wawa is promised to a hostile tribe as a peace-making chattel that she takes matters into her own hands in an effort to avoid being separated from Dain. Initially, I was under the impression that the story was set in pre-colonial days, not unlike Rolf de Heer’s ‘Ten Canoes’ (2006), but an unexpected link to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip puts events in the recent past and, to be honest, briefly takes the wind out of the movie’s sails.

Intoxicating cinematography is complemented by a brooding, spare score from Antony Partos that never intrudes on the sounds of chooks and pigs and footfall – and the incredible rumbling of the volcano.

You can catch this wonderful movie at the Community Centre on November 25.


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Where should affordable housing go in Tweed Shire?

Should affordable and social housing in the Tweed Shire be tucked away in a few discreet corners? Perhaps it should be on the block next to where you live?

Making Lismore Showground accessible to everyone

The Lismore Showground isn’t just a critical local community asset that plays host to a number of major events each year, but has also been used as an evacuation centre during past natural disasters in the region. 

Iconic Lennox beach shed upgraded –  not demolished

Lennox Park and the shelter shed has now been upgraded and reopened.

Govt cost-shifting ‘erodes financially sustainable local government’

Byron Shire Council looks set to add its voice to the growing chorus calling on the state government to stop shifting responsibilities and costs onto local government.