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Byron Shire
June 5, 2026

Friday’s 4 the locals

Latest News

Council tightens ‘affordable housing’ rules

Byron Council has tightened its definition of ‘affordable housing’ in a bid to make access to housing more equitable on major projects like the former Mullumbimby Hospital site and 57 Station Street.

Other News

Lismore Lantern Parade returns 20 June

The iconic Lismore Lantern Parade will once again light up the streets of Lismore on Saturday 20 June, kicking off with a full day of markets, live music and exciting activities.

Norths desert Bangalow Bowlo… again

Eight Bangalow community members attended Norths AGM on Monday, 25 May, to seek answers about the future of Bangalow Bowlo, but received no meaningful engagement, with their concerns merely ‘noted’.

Rail trail funding 1

The Echo reports ‘fury’ over the federal government’s failure to fund the rail trail. I recall fury when government...

Northern Rivers philanthropic org reveals 2025 achievements

Not-for-profit philanthropic organisation,  Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF), have released their annual report for 2025, revealing $2.4m was raised, and 121 projects funded across the region.

Tyagarah Road, Myocum, closes Thursday

Essential Energy say contractors will carry out vegetation management around the electricity network in parts of Myocum on Thursday, 4 June.

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Saying Goodbye to a Very Handsome Man

Last week an old friend of mine died. His name was Gary Cook. We met here in Byron Bay, when I was 23. He would have been in his early 30s. He was handsome. And funny. And weird. And self-involved. He used to come to Ringos, where I worked as a waitress. He’d sing to himself, bludge cigarettes, and shine up the serviette holder. He loved looking at himself. He’d laugh and say, ‘God, I’m a handsome man,’ and then he’d laugh this really infectious laugh

Does that make them Crazy?

Ash Grunwald and Scott Owen from The Living End are both Byron Shire locals – Ash has been around for close to five years and Scott almost three. The lads, who apart from loving the great food and culture, the people and long walks at midnight, (I’m not saying who said what), they also love the waves.

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Bluesman Ash and world-renowned bass-straddler Scott’s friendship developed quickly around the coal pit in Ash’s backyard over many a soy sausage and a surf report. The two gents’ wives would form their band Mr Cassidy and soon enough, the lads themselves, would stand side by side on the stage as well.

 

And as things tend to do, one thing led to another, and soon The Living End’s drummer Andy Strachan would take to the road with Ash too, playing a handful of highly-received festival shows to Melbourne and Perth punters, who were delighted and shocked to see the coming together of these seemingly unlikely three.

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And if it weren’t already unexpected enough, after a couple of rocking shows, Ash and his unforeseen band comprising two of Australia’s most successful rock musicians would end up in a studio together recording live to tape, the heaviest, bangingest version of Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy, known to man. Which of course, they would.

Rather than let this sonic anomaly gather dust on no-one but the trio’s own shelves of memory, Ash decided to send it out into the world – an aural totem of the spontaneity of life; and a cracking version of one of the world renowned bluesman’s all time favourite tracks.

As a treat for fans, Crazy has been released as a free download.

But wait! You also get… Ash will be travelling in June and July from Fremantle and Perth down to Hobart and up the east coast. Scott and Andy will be joining him on a tour of gargantuan proportions.

You can see the three locally at the Hotel Great Northern on July 4.

 

 

 



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Push to slow traffic outside Coorabell Hall

The campaign to slow traffic on the short stretch of Coolamon Scenic Drive outside Coorabell Hall is gradually gathering momentum, with Byron Council supporting a lower speed limit despite advice the road may not meet state criteria.

Temporary home for Queer Family after heated debate

Byron Shire Council has voted to provide struggling local LGBTQIA+ support service Queer Family Inc with temporary access to a Council-owned property at peppercorn rent, following an impassioned plea from the organisation and a lengthy debate over governance and fairness.

Naturism

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Invisible elderly women

The 2026 Federal Budget has sent a clear, heartbreaking message to the senior women of the Tweed: you are invisible. While the treasurer boasted about...