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June 7, 2026

Culture Roundup – Wednesday 28 December, 2016

Latest News

Cartoon of the week – 3 June, 2026

The Echo loves your letters and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, send us your epistles.

Other News

Before The Shed falls silent…

Join the Nudge crew this Saturday for the season ten finale of Nudge Nudge Wink Wink (NNWW) in The Shed at the Billinudgel Hotel – bringing another unforgettable night of music, connection and community spirit to the Northern Rivers.

Lismore City Council recognised for environmental leadership at LG awards

Lismore City Council has been recognised for outstanding achievement in environmental leadership, resilience and community infrastructure at the 2026 LG Professionals NSW Local Government Excellence Awards.

Protest march

Byron Shire’s infrastructure has become beyond repair. Reports of new overflow of sewage. Reports of decades of no maintenance...

Naturism

For decades, naturism has struggled with a strange communication barrier. Most naturist educational material contains nudity, which means it is...

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.

Teen charged over Mullum crash

A fifteen-year-old is to face court later this month accused of a crash in Mullumbimby that police say left another child hospitalised while the offender fled the scene.

Rev Your Scooters! Ellen Briggs & Mandy Nolan performing Women Like Us at the Ballina RSL Friday 6 January
Rev Your Scooters! Ellen Briggs & Mandy Nolan performing Women Like Us at the Ballina RSL Friday 6 January

Women Like Us in Ballina

Get those scooters on charge and get to the Ballina RSL when Mandy Nolan and Ellen Briggs present Women Like Us, the sensation that’s been called ‘a two Tena pad show’.

Two women of wit doing one hour of standup each. It’s the full show. Wild, wondrous and totally irreverent. Come and celebrate your dysfunction with these middle-aged hornbags. Friday 6 January, 8pm. Tix at ballinarsl.com.au or at the club.

Austen Tayshus at the Byron Services Club on Monday 9 January
Austen Tayshus at the Byron Services Club on Monday 9 January

Many Austen Tayshus Returns!

There are few comics with the tenacity and killer instinct of Austen Tayshus. The comedy superstar who first came into being in 1981 has the ability to take a room hostage just with his tongue. Topical, dangerous, irreverent, he’s the High Priest of Satire, unflappable and relentless. He’s the closest thing the Australian comedy scene has to Bill Hicks. Except Austen is very much alive. Every show is unique. He has the ability to weave current politics, what’s happening in the room, philosophy, anthropology, religion and of course sport – and let’s not forget the pope – into one gag.

Tayshus is a man of controversy. There is no subject he won’t dissect. Uncomfortable, confronting, but always illuminating, an Austen Tayshus show is both comic and cleansing. Austen remarked once that he sees his role as being a social agitator, as the prickle in the paw that makes the public think. He doesn’t need you to like him. In fact he’d probably prefer if you didn’t.

Austen Tayshus headlines at the Byron Services Club on Monday 9 January.

Doors 7pm. Show 8pm. Tickets $20/25 at the club or online at mandynolan.com.au.

Thomgallery is now showing the work of Conchita Carambano and is open Thursday–Monday  Midday–5pm (outside hours call 0411 813 999)
Thomgallery is now showing the work of Conchita Carambano and is open Thursday–Monday  Midday–5pm (outside hours call 0411 813 999)

Thomas Up for Conchita

Thomgallery is now showing the work of Conchita Carambano and welcome all to come and view her stunning abstract works. To view outside these hours, phone 0411 813 999.

Furthest Up the Beach

The Byron Bay Surf Festival is stoked to announce it will host the second edition of the McTavish Trim.

The McTavish Trim – Furthest Up The Beach, is a unique surfing event whereby the longest distance surfed is the goal for each of the 12 invited trimmers. Surfboards must be more than 10 foot in length, requiring a significant amount of skill and panache to surf. The event will take place during the always popular freestyle and stoke surf sessions, on the Sunday of the festival, which could not be better this year with the unique addition of the Trim. On this stoke-filled day you’ll also enjoy the classic surf sessions, which this year include torpedoes (bodysurfing), finless (timber, surfmat or softboards), fish, logs, mermaids (gals only), Tandem, and the partywave! These sessions are non-competitive and are more or less based on artistic interpretation with a decided peer vote for which waverider shows the most pure stoke and freestyling fun on any particular wave during each of the sessions.

Sunday 26 February at Wategos!

For his Big Heart!

Most of the Shire would be aware of the work of Paul Barrett and the Samba-Blisstas. Moving here around a decade ago Paul kicked off community drum groups with his ensembles leading and opening festivals and events throughout the region. Sadly three weeks ago Paul had a major heart attack and remains in hospital. He gives so much to the community, near and far.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for him and community members are being asked to donate to: www.gofundme.com/3134voo.

SAE Institute have just announced regional scholarship program with info session at the Byron Campus on 19 January
SAE Institute have just announced regional scholarship program with info session at the Byron Campus on 19 January

SAE’s $ for Creatives

Recognising the value of the creative industries to the NSW northern rivers – and the employment opportunities this sector offers local youth, mature age students and career changers – SAE Institute has announced a 2017 Northern Rivers Creative Media Scholarship program.

A scholarship amount of up to $8,000 will be available for up to 50 students commencing a Diploma in Screen and Media in Digital Video Production, Music Industry in Electronic Music Production or Sound Production. The scholarship provides approximately $8,000 towards tuition fees for a seven-month, full-time Diploma course (or part-time equivalent).

To apply, students must meet SAE’s diploma enrolment criteria and scholarship criteria, which include residing in the northern rivers region during their studies, and participating in an interview process to determine motivation, aspirations and creative-media experience. For the purpose of the scholarship, the northern rivers region includes Byron Shire, Ballina Shire, Lismore City, Tweed Shire, Richmond Valley, Kyogle Shire and Clarence Valley councils. This scholarship will also be made available to students who have already enrolled to commence a Diploma at SAE Byron Bay in February 2017 and meet the scholarship criteria.

A scholarship information session will be held at Byron Bay campus on 19 January 2017 at 4–7pm. Applications for scholarships close on Monday 23 January 2016.

For more information visit sae.edu.au/scholarships.



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Marooned yacht on rocks near Ballina

A local photographer has shot a marooned yacht at Flat Rock, in Ballina Shire. It's the second boat to be washed ashore in recent months

Echo celebrates 40 with awards night tomorrow

Tickets are selling fast! Come join a fun-filled night of community celebration – This Saturday (tomorrow) The Echo is set to mark its 40th year in style with a ’30s swing-era style party and community awards night featuring the dynamic sounds of the Melbourne Ska Orchestra.

Author Tristan Bancks follows up with Two Wolves sequel

Local author Tristan Bancks launched his new book for readers 10+, Raised By Wolves, at Byron Book Room last night (Thursday 4 June).

Lismore City Council recognised for environmental leadership at LG awards

Lismore City Council has been recognised for outstanding achievement in environmental leadership, resilience and community infrastructure at the 2026 LG Professionals NSW Local Government Excellence Awards.