Bluesfest director Peter Noble, right, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, ‘For service to live and recorded music, to tourism, and to the community.’
The governor-general’s office says Bluesfest supports Australian Seabird Rescue, Bay FM 99.9, Boomerang Festival, Byron Youth Service, Cancer Council, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Playing For Change, The Uncle Project and Westpac Helicopter Rescue.
And part-time Main Arm resident Adrian Newstead has been awarded an OAM, celebrating his 35-year commitment to the promotion of Indigenous Australian artists.
The citation reads: ‘For service to the museum and galleries sector, particularly through the promotion of Indigenous arts’.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
