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June 21, 2026

Culture Roundup – Wednesday 12 October, 2016

Latest News

The NT intervention laws that shape lives

This Sunday marks 19 years since the then Howard Government announced the Northern Territory Intervention laws – ‘The Intervention’ began with a media release by Mal Brough, Minister for Indigenous Affairs, on June 21, 2007.

Other News

Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens – where health grows

The Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens is a calm, quiet, soothing place to stroll, relax, and recharge. Be still and some of the one hundred species of birds will shyly share their beautiful haven with you.

A Church for All People

Celebrating its tenth year, the Brunswick Picture House personifies ‘A Church for All People’, in its packed, eclectic and biggest ever program. The next few weeks and months bring a throng of music superstars, a gang of Australia’s hottest comedians, and plenty of jaw-dropping burlesque beauties to blow your minds.

WAVE – I Have Friends Everywhere

The closing date for entries is in October, so this is a callout for all design artists, fashion innovators, culture initiators and wearable inventors.

Local boxing legend visits Byron Boxing

Kyogle heavyweight, Athol McQueen, who represented Australia at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and famously floored a then-unknown Joe Frazier,...

Lismore rallies to save homes from demolition

Around hundred residents met at the Lismore Quad on Saturday to demand the demolitions of heritage homes cease, the flood recovery promised is delivered, and that every person be housed.

Call for nominations for NSW Australian of the Year 2027

Nominations are now open for the NSW Australian of the Year 2027.

Chukale, one of the featured Latin bands at the Byron Latin Fiesta, 4–7 November
Chukale, one of the featured Latin bands at the Byron Latin Fiesta, 4–7 November

Byron Latin Fiesta

Get those salsa bodies ready, the Byron Latin Fiesta is now in its 11th year and gearing up for one inspired, sweaty showdown of instructors, performers, Latin bands and DJs.

Festival Hub is the Byron Theatre with beginner workshops at Club Byron (The Bowlo), a pre-party on 3 November at the Ginger Pig, and all the after-parties at Guzman y Gomez. Latin bands include Chukale, directed by percussionist and singer Gustavo Cereijo. The band has supported international salsa icons Sonora Carrusueles from Columbia, Venezuela’s Grammy winners Los Amigos Invisibles and Grammy-winning Cuban cultural institutions Los Van Van and a whole lot more. Dedicated to creating a benchmark for Latin music in Australia, the one thing you won’t be doing when these guys are playing is sitting on a bench. It’s impossible to keep that booty static.

For a taste of what’s in store go to the Bangalow Bowlo on Saturday, from 6pm for salsa and latin. Byron Latin Fiesta, 4–6 November: byronlatinfiesta.com.au.

Twelfth Night at The Drill Hall Theatre
Twelfth Night at The Drill Hall Theatre

All Women All Shakespeare

Hard to believe that more than 400 years ago Shakespeare penned his farewell to pure comedy: Twelfth Night. Balancing the gaiety, boisterousness and drunken carousing of Sir Toby Belch with the pathos of unrequited love and the pomposity and self-deception of Malvolio and Sir Andrew Aguecheek, this is the perfect vehicle to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of our greatest poet. For the upcoming performance by the Drill Hall Theatre Company, the script has been edited in a more contemporary light, enlivening the celebration with the production set in the 1950s, including eight songs played by a live band and featuring four circus interludes. And because in Shakespeare’s day only males were allowed onstage, now in 2016 the theatre company are presenting the show with an all-female cast.

The Drill Hall Theatre, Mullumbimby – Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 21 October till 6 November. For tickets go to the Mullumbimby Bookshop or go online to drillhalltheatre.org.au.

Periwinkle Preschool crowdfunding and film fundraiser at Brunswick Picture House on Friday
Periwinkle Preschool crowdfunding and film fundraiser at Brunswick Picture House on Friday

Periwinkle Project

Periwinkle Preschool is a unique not-for-profit community-based preschool that has been serving local families for thirty years. They have been given the chance to purchase the land on which Periwinkle Steiner Preschool sits on Sunrise Blvd in Byron Bay. Right now the preschool is crowdfunding to repay a loan of $237,000.

Those interested in finding out more are invited to the Brunswick Picture House on Friday at 6pm.

Your $32 limited-availability tickets include a curry, and of course there are raffles, silent auctions, an art auction and musical performances by Maple: Bridget and Monica Brandolini and Lecia Roberston and Davey Bob’s Blue Healers. And raffles: If you want to make a donation go to www.gofundme.com/periwinklebyron. 6pm.



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Hemp industry given boost with development plan

A Hemp Industry Development Plan has been announced by the NSW government, which promises 'to unlock new opportunities for NSW businesses and add value to the state's low-THC hemp industry, which is forecast to become a $100 million Australian industry by 2032'.

Gambling harm recognised by Tweed Council, supported by Wesley Mission

Faith-based, not-for-profit organisation providing community services in NSW, Wesley Mission, has welcomed Tweed Shire Council’s decision to publicly recognise the impact of gambling harm and advocate for stronger harm-minimisation measures.

Winter Warmer fundraiser for homelessness

The annual Winter Warmer Homelessness Relief campaign, hosted by Dharma Care, will return for 2026 with cabaret at Salt, Kingscliff, on Thursday 2 July, headlined by comedian Mandy Nolan, interactive performance artist The Space Cowboy and the Kinship Doobai Dancers, with a Welcome to Country from Aunty Jackie.

Tweed Shire Council presents flood resilience series – part one

Over the coming weeks, Tweed Shire Council will present a flood resilience series, which looks at how 'Tweed's story is different from the standard flood recovery narrative and what happened next'.