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Byron Shire
March 29, 2024

Life was meant to get easier?

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

Records galore!

Byron Bay Easter Record Fair returns again to Ewingsdale Hall. Now in its 15th year, the Byron Bay Easter Record Fair is one of the biggest and best in this country. Matt the Vinyl Junkie has spent years on buying trips to the US and Japan scouring dusty warehouses, shops, flea markets and private collections. He can offer an astounding 30,000 records in one place covering most genres.

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.

Breakfeast, Bluesfest weekend

Victoria Cosford Oh to be a cow with a four-chambered stomach system! Farmers’ market, Bluesfest long weekend, a spot of...

Man charged over domestic violence and pursuit offences – Tweed Heads

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

New report highlights gaps in rural and remote health

The second annual Royal Flying Doctor Service ‘Best for the Bush, Rural and remote Health Base Line’ report has just been released. Presenting the latest data on the health of rural and remote Australians and evidence on service gaps, it identifies issues in urgent need of attention from service providers, funders, partners and policy makers.

Peter Garrett gives Bluesfest the nod

If I say the words ‘US Forces give the nod’, I can pretty much guarantee that you will hear the unmistakable voice of Peter Garrett ringing in your ears. Your head may even start to bob up and down a bit. 

Life is so much easier since the days of my youth – a time when my father had survived ‘the war to end all wars’ but didn’t survive bankruptcy in the ‘Great Depression’.

Then there is my experience at high school. All through World War II, we dug up the treeless, bitumen covered school yard at lunch time to make slit trenches – all the while not knowing whether we would be invaded.

Now all seems so much easier. That is until I rang from my Telstra landline to check the price of a local call from a public phone. Twenty-seven minutes later I was told the answer, 50 cents. I had spoken to six people of interesting and different accents. Welcome to modern Australia.

It’s made me think about us older citizens trying to make our way in this fast-changing world.

I’m 88 years old. I’ve got a body full of stents. I’m described as ‘frail aged’. I buy postage stamps to stick on envelopes to pay my bills by cheque. I don’t have a mobile ‘phone. I don’t have a computer. I’ve tried, but haven’t been able to master them.

I know, I know. I should make a bigger effort. Instead I rely on smiles, frowns, gestures, voice tones and eye contact to aid my discourse.

I have good friends who recognise my age-driven inertia in our electronics saturated culture. They understand and do their best to keep me in touch.

Others, not so lucky, also electronically frail retreat to their lonely four walls and despair of a future deprived of life-affirming contact.

This is surely euthanasia by exclusion.

Ken (Stents) Nicholson, Kingscliff


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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

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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.