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Byron Shire
March 29, 2024

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Latest News

Resilient Lismore’s ‘Repair to Return’ funding

On the eve of the second anniversary of the second devastating flood in 2022, Resilient Lismore has welcomed the finalisation of its funding deed with the NSW Reconstruction Authority, which will enable the continuation of its ‘Repair to Return’ program.

Other News

Richmond Valley Rail Trail grand opening

The latest leg of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail opened in style on Saturday, with hundreds of two-wheeled travel enthusiasts spinning along the newly opened 13.4 kilometre section from Casino to Bentley.

Queer family visibility

Did you know that, statistically, if you’ve met a redhead, you’ve also met a trans person? Over 800 trans and gender diverse people live in the Byron Shire, which includes at least 200 children. They’re often a bit hidden though, so come on down and celebrate with them this Trans Day of Visibility!

Could the future of the Richmond River be a clean and healthy one?

Imagine a drinkable, swimmable, fishable Richmond River? That is the aim of the Richmond Riverkeepers Association.

Dynamic, rustic yet polished

Animal Ventura is the brainchild of Byron Bay-based singer-songwriter Fernando Aragones. Growing up playing punk and reggae in noisy garage bands in Southern Brazil, Aragones ventured to Australia where the eclectic sounds of the Sydney music scene beckoned.

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.

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.

Indophiles will tell you that India is not really like this – but in the same breath they will concede that, well, yes it is. The country is an enigma, embracing at every minute the ancient past and the cutting edge of tomorrow.

Director John Madden’s sequel to his whimsical but wonderful and enormously popular (especially with the old fogeys among us) new-Raj dramedy leans heavily towards tourist-brochure imagery and relies probably too much on convoluted Indian English for its gags, but he has at his disposal a cast that is clearly enamoured with its cheesy screenplay.

Eight months have passed since we last saw them and all the gang are back – Bill Nighy and Judi Dench, though pining for each other, still haven’t ‘done it’, Diana Hardcastle and Ronald Pickup are shacked up together, Celia Imre has become the femme fatale at the Viceroy Club, and Maggie Smith is firmly entrenched as the crotchety mentor of the soon-to-be-married, entrepreneurial Sonny (Dev Patel).

Enter Richard Gere as a hotel inspector – or is he? – to make eyes at Sonny’s mother (Lillete Dubey).

The story to begin with, of cashed-up English retirees living in a converted palace in Jaipur, was fanciful enough, but to take it even further and have some of them actually finding paid employment is over the odds. But who cares?

We are floating in a romance bubble that that will take no account of such an implausible scenario and the mood has moved on from nostalgia to buoyant, late-life, almost preppy optimism.

The only problem I have with it is in the casting, for, much as they are both good in their parts, I simply cannot see Nighy and Dench as an item. Otherwise, for all its predictable plot points (some are very transparent), I was completely taken by surprise at the resolution of Sonny’s dilemma.

It is everything I hoped for after ‘Marigold 1’ – and what’s a movie set in India without an ecstatic dance routine to seal the deal?

~ John Campbell


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Editorial – Joyous propaganda! 

The NSW Labor government marked its one year in office this week with a jubilant statement of achievements issued from Macquarie Street HQ.

Man charged over domestic violence and pursuit offences – Tweed Heads

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

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.