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Byron Shire
July 15, 2026

Culture roundup: Dec 7-Dec 14

Latest News

Renewables and battery storage stable amid global uncertainty

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, in partnership with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) today released the GenCost 2025–26 Final Report, finding renewable energy supported by storage is helping to protect Australia against global energy shocks and continues to provide the lowest cost pathway for Australia’s electricity system to achieve net zero emissions.

Other News

Mullum community calls for car park DA issues to be addressed, not ignored

Residents packed the Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club on Monday night to get an understanding of the changes, or lack there-of, to the 57 Station Street, Mullumbimby DA.

Bigger community say on hospital land

Byron Council has voted to give the community a greater role in shaping the future of the former Mullumbimby Hospital site, despite concerns from some councillors that additional consultation could further delay the delivery of desperately needed housing.

Tonight’s The Night – actually, it’s Thursday night

Rob Caudill, renowned for his uncanny resemblance to the legendary Rod Stewart, continues to captivate audiences worldwide – whether he’s stopped in airports for autographs or turning heads in restaurants, Caudill’s presence is unmistakable.

Alleged Lennox Head native tree removal sparks calls for action

A Ballina Greens councillor is calling on the government agencies to act immediately over claims that native clearing is occurring on a private property in Lennox Head.

Cinema: Look who’s come down for dinner

Failed musician Joe arrives home from work to discover his stay-at-home wife Angela has invited their upstairs neighbours, divorcee Pína and her partner, widower Hawk, over for dinner at their apartment.

Deadly weaving at Lismore gallery

Eighteen months ago, a group of First Nations artists from the Northern Rivers came together at the Lismore Regional Gallery as part of the Gathering Space project.

Pfffft for PM

A new Slightly-Drunk-Ted-Talk, Alternative Prime Minister, from Mark Swivel, Accredited Near Dead White Male™.

As indifference turns to anger, Mark hits the hustings to tickle and provoke – if not a riot, then dancing.
Expect banter, singing, fiscal rectitude… full-costed silly buggers that strays close to common sense!

Alternative Prime Minister plays Sydney before coming to Mullum.

We all know we need an alternative PM, but who among us would want the gig? Well, sometimes stuff gets so bad, even those of us manifestly unfit for public office have to take one for the team. Join Mark’s cabinet and help him create a Country Worth Living In, using nothing but a hula hoop, Venn diagram and barbecue tongs.

Half the $20 ticket price to Beata, Mengistu and the crew working with refugees and asylum seekers in Dutton St, Dutton Park, at the Romero Centre https://romero.mercycs.org.au/. They do valuable work for people left to fend for themselves in our allegedly civilised society – providing food, counselling, legal referrals and more.

Mark performs in a tasteful Hugo Boss suit and a hi-vis jacket – the standard PM uniform.

Mark toured Dad. Joke. and How Deep Is Your Love? all over Australia. They led him to host Studio 10 with Ita Buttrose and on to Late Night Love with Philip Adams. His play Water Falling Down showed at QTC in Brisbane and B Street, Sacramento. Mark took Jeremy Boutsakis to Edinburgh in 2007. He moved to Mullum in 2013, is a director of the fabulous Spaghetti Circus, company secretary at Enova Energy and the proud MC of Mullumgrad’s leading all-male Russian choir Dustyesky.

Let him know if you’d like to chat, run a by-election or conduct an unnecessary postal survey together.

A bonkers friend also made some Alt PM badges. We’ll sell them at the gig to raise a few more bob for the Romero Centre. Should raise at least a dollar, maybe two.

Mullum Ex-Services, Thursday 7.30pm.


Kids get funny with Mandy

For years comedians have made jokes about how funny kids are. And sure, they are. They say some pretty hysterical stuff. But what do kids actually think about adults? About our hypocrisy? About our rules? About how we run the world? Find out what the world looks like from a kid’s perspective when comedian and mother of five Mandy Nolan presents Funny Kids — a 2-hour standup comedy spectacular that features 20 kids, aged 8–12, all performing their first standup comedy routines.

Brunswick Picture House, Sunday 3pm.


HALLELUJAH!

It’s the festive season once again, and Dynasty8 Chamber Choir and friends are presenting a concert of uplifting music that has been written specifically for this time of year.

Whatever your religious, spiritual or secular beliefs, the music in this concert will allow for a moment of reflection and peace in these strange and turbulent times.

The program includes carols for choir and recorder consort, Benjamin Britten’s  Ceremony of Carols and the Hallelujah chorus from Handel’s Messiah.

Friday 5pm at All Souls Anglican Church Hall in Bangalow.


Here today…

Byron Youth Theatre cast members are looking forward to sharing their last production for 2017 community audiences on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December at the Drill Hall Theatre, Mullumbimby. Gone Tomorrow, funded by Northern Rivers Community Foundation and with financial assistance from Cunning Stunts, is a linear play that looks at the devastating effects of youth suicide, how compounded mental health challenges can severely affect young people, and how and where to access help.

‘We have been through a huge process developing this production,’ shares director Lisa Apostolides.

BYT members have  interviewed people affected by suicide, shared their personal experiences with mental health issues, as well as conducted supported research with Headspace, Beyond Blue, Black Dog, Social Futures, Peter Chown (psychologist), Open Minds, Well Ways and the Mental Health Association of NSW. Script development advice was sought from several of these organisations.

The production will include live music performed by cast members and a mixture of realistic and stylised scenes.
‘We really hope the community support this production by coming to see a performance. It is so important for all of us to become more aware of the issues that can lead to suicide, and assist each other in getting help,’ says BYT cast member Oberon.

BYT members wish to thank the Mental Health Association of NSW, Wellways and Open Minds for funding their production Mind Made Me, which they performed at Lismore City Hall and the Drill Hall, Mullumbimby, recently. ‘The response was amazing,’ says cast member Lae. ‘The audience were really moved and touched by each scene. I learnt a great deal doing this production and our company has become even closer.’

This event will be on at the Drill Hall Theatre, Mullumbimby, Saturday at 2pm and 6pm and Sunday at 6pm.


Stop Adani!

Guarding the Galilee is a 30-minute documentary on the battle to stop the biggest coal mine in Australian history, the Adani Carmichael Project. The documentary screening, narrated by The Castle’s Michael Caton, is about the epic fight to stop the Adani mine.

Speakers on the night will be Mandy Nolan and Tony Barry and there will be a performance by Sophia Fletcher.

Regent Cinema, Murwillumbah, Wednesday 13 December, 7pm.


Inside Out

Public Act Theatre presents Inside Out, an end-of-term showcase performance.
Public Act Theatre is at the end of their sixth 10-week course, which aims to empower women through theatre.
The performance is a mix of ensemble and individual pieces using movement, song, poetry, text and image.
The work has been devised and created by the group with facilitators Philippa Williams and Frauke Huhn and explores the five emotions: fear, anger, sadness, joy and compassion.

The show is on Wednesday 1 December at 7pm at the Byron Theatre.



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Lismore Boulevard Project announced

Design concept plans for the Lismore Boulevard – Shared User Path project are now available for community consultation, following Lismore City Council securing $2,383,030 in funding through the NSW Government’s Get NSW Active 2025–2026 program, administered by Transport for NSW (TfNSW).

Community responds to detention dams proposal

More than 110 residents gathered at Rock Valley Hall on Sunday 12 July and rejected claims that the recently released CSIRO report on flood mitigation was informed by strong community consultation.

Data shows biggest danger to wildlife is people, not cats

Human-created hazards are responsible for most wildlife rescues in New South Wales, and researchers are calling for more prevention strategies to save threatened species.

Try pickleball and support a great cause

Northern Rivers Pickleball Club are holding a marathon day of pickleball on Sunday, 19 July at the Goonellabah Tennis and Pickleball Club Reserve Street, Goonellabah.