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Byron Shire
June 22, 2026

Culture in the Byron Shire and Beyond for the Week Beginning October 10, 2018

Latest News

Lismore wants a a safe, accessible and long-term home for the Hannah Cabinet

The Hannah Cabinet was created by Lismore master craftsman Geoff Hannah OAM over six-and-a-half years and is widely regarded as one of Australia’s most significant pieces of contemporary decorative furniture.

Other News

Where is the real cost in rail v trail?

When the state government closed the one daily train service on the Casino to Murwillumbah line, which records show...

More comes out on Byron and Mullum pools saga

The problem with Byron Shire councillors making decisions in confidential sessions ‘behind closed doors’ is that no-one knows what really happened apart from those in the room.

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.

Cartoons of the week – 17 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.

Tweed keeps rate increase below rate of inflation

Tweed Shire Council says it has adopted one of the lowest rate increases in the cross-border region for 2026/27, with the average household bill rising around 3.6 per cent once all charges are counted. This is below the current annual rate of inflation of 4.2 per cent.

Dancing and fundraising for our children’s future

The recent premeditated killings of several children in Australia by their fathers has raised the issue of filicide (the deliberate act of a parent killing their own child) alongside the issue of domestic violence (DV) and femicide (the intentional murder of women or girls) as key areas that need research to help understand why these things happen.

byron bay latin fiesta

13th Annual Byron Latin Fiesta!

Byron Theatre | 1–4 November 2018

Well all you latin-dancing guys and girls, it’s time to get your cha-cha on. That’s right, we’re just a few weeks away from the 13th Annual Byron Latin Fiesta! Four nights and two days of latin dance workshops and parties with international, national and local instructors and performers!

Catering to beginners and seasoned dancers alike – there really is something for everyone! And maybe even someone for everyone! This event is one of the longest-running and most popular latin dance events in the country. This year’s event features international artists: Sabiha (Dominican Bachata and Ladies Style), Azzedine (Urban Kiz & Kizomba Musicality) and Umberto (Salsa and Mambo). All artists are based in Paris, and all are coming to Australia for the very first time!

Two amazing live bands featuring: El Timbon (Brisbane) playing the best Cuban Salsa and Timba plus Gonzalo Porta (Sydney) playing Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha Cha and more. 10+ latin DJs from Byron Bay, Gold Coast, Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne to keep the social dancefloors pumping with the best Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba and other popular latin styles.

40+ dance workshops for beginners to advanced dancers across two venues in a variety of latin dance styles. The Byron Theatre (main venue) and the Byron Bay English Language School (the beginners hub.

Get truly inspired from the energy of latin dance and music plus experience the unique attributes of Byron Bay and the north coast of NSW! The days are packed full with dance workshops for beginners to experienced dancers and the night-time parties include performances, live bands and latin DJs for plenty of social dancing!

Tix and program on byronlatinfiesta.com.au


Byron ballet at the Byron Theatre

Byron Ballet Present Sleeping Beauty

Byron Theatre | October 27 2pm & 4pm

The magical tale of Sleeping Beauty is presented at the Byron Theatre later this month. Set to the sublime music of Tchaikovsky and other master composers, Byron Ballet’s original version brings this classic tale to life with a deeper understanding about Maleficent, the wicked fairy.

October 27 2pm and 4pm. Tix at byroncentre.com.au.


Last week for Mark Colvin’s Kidney

The Drill Hall Theatre | Friday, Saturday at 7pm & Sunday 2pm

Mark Colvin’s Kidney has had a magnificent opening weekend with praise coming from all directions for this outstanding production. Sunday’s performance with the playwright in attendance was a sellout. Make sure you get your tickets for the next two weekends while they are still available. Last shows Friday–Sunday this week. Tix at the Mullum Bookstore or online at www.drillhalltheatre.org.au


The Script Lab: Writing for Telly

November 12–16 | Applications are now open and will close at midnight on Tuesday 16 October

If you’re living in regional, rural, or remote Australia and want to write for television, here is a new opportunity specifically designed to showcase your talent.

Screenworks and Matchbox Pictures with the support of Screen Australia’s Enterprise Ideas funding program and Create NSW Early Development Funding are offering unique opportunities for five regional screenwriters to be part of a five-day script lab to develop the new TV series, Best Medicine.

The script lab will be held in Lismore over November 12–16 and led by the internationally acclaimed writer Holly Phillips (Millie In Between) and the Script Development Team from Matchbox Pictures (Nowhere Boys). Applications are now open and will close at midnight on Tuesday 16 October. To apply visit www.screenworks.com.au


Trivia Night for Liberation Larder

Thursday 25 Oct | Bangalow Bowlo | 6pm

Got a head full of useless general knowledge? Like to slay people with your cerebral dossier of facts?

Well get a team together, have fun, and help a local charity at the same time.

Liberation Larder is a food-rescue charity feeding the homeless and needy in Byron Shire. They are holding a trivia night to raise some money for their very important charity.

To get involved, you can come on your own or with some friends, or even get 10 people together to make a team and purchase a whole table. Your ticket price includes food and an automatic donation to Liberation Larder. Great prizes to win too.

There’ll be raffles, silent auctions, and a chance for a good laugh. You can even make a donation to auction or raffle (contact [email protected] to organise this).

Tickets are $55 per person + booking fee. To purchase tickets, go to www.stickytickets.com.au then put in liberation larder trivia night. Thursday 25 Oct at the Bangalow Bowlo from 6 till 10pm.


Greg Fleet – in conversation about his new book The Good Son at the Drill Hall in Mullumbimby on Wednesday 24 October and then headlining in full comic glory at the Ballina RSL Big Gig on Thursday 25

Greg Fleet in Conversation with Mandy Nolan

The Drill Hall Theatre | Wednesday 24 October | 7pm | $10

Greg Fleet has written an intriguing love story set in a nursing home. It’s all about what happens when a couple of nice people come up with an idea to pretend to be the children of people with dementia to cheer them up! Greg Fleet is a standup comedian. His spellbinding and achingly funny ability to deliver a story onstage has made him legendary in Melbourne where he lives. In recent years Fleety has shown he can do this not just on the stage but on the page as well – with numerous non-fictions offered up over the years. But this time Fleety has done something different. The man who brought forward some incredibly gritty tales about his battles with addiction has written a beautiful uplifting story about human relationships and how little people can make a big difference.

The Good Son is a warm and charming novel about when to hold on and when to let go.

Greg Fleet joins fellow comedian and writer Mandy Nolan for a conversation at the Drill Hall about his new book. Don’t miss the chance to hear one of the best tall-tale tellers in the flesh.

Wednesday 24 October at the Drill Hall in Mullumbimby at 7pm. Tix are $10 on the door or online at mandynolan.com.au.


Stories in the Club

Club Mullum – Mullumbimby Ex-Services | Sunday 14 Oct | 4–5.30pm | $10 | 14 years +

This Sunday, Stories in the Club gather to hear tales of bird and human migration. Tellers will be Jan Olley, John Imbrogno, Alicia Vella, Luis Santos, and Jenni Cargill-Strong. Two weeks later it will be followed by a story circle on the theme of Sanctuary at Wild Space on Sunday 28 October.

Jan Olley is the coordinator of Byron Bird Buddies and sits on the Regional Advisory Committee for National Parks. Her story tells not only of her own discoveries in nature but of the astounding journeys of thousands of migrating shorebirds that visit our coasts and wetlands each year.

Bobbi Allan has a long involvement with social and environmental organisations, was a founding member and facilitator of the Heart Politics conferences, the Social Change Training & Resource Centre, and Buddhist teacher at Stillness in Action meditation retreats. Bobbi now teaches mindfulness to school teachers and students. She has been active in support of refugees in Australian detention centres since 2001 and will read from a new book by Behrouz Boochani, a Kurdish-Australian journalist and filmmaker with a background in political science and geopolitics.

John Imbrogno is a passionate storyteller and was a member of the Byron Circle of Tellers. He has been working with young men and men for over 10 years and uses story as therapy in his work. He will tell of his recent journey to Italy and meeting his extended family for the first time.

Alicia Vella’s passion is co-creating and facilitating interactive experiences inviting people to deeply connect into their heart centre through wellness, creativity and nature. Alicia’s creatively expressed story encapsulates her ancestral lineage’s migration journey to Australia and what it means for her to create roots on the sacred land of Australia.

Luis Santos was born in Lisbon, Portugal. He’s been a Mullumbimby dweller for over 15 years, is married to Tracy, is the father of five children, and has been active in the local men’s movement.

Curator of the event, storyteller and singer Jenni Cargill-Strong, will sing the original ballad of her great-grandmother, Emily Jane, who sailed here with her husband and child in 1884 and endured many hardships on the journey and after arrival.

Sunday at the Mullum Ex-Services at 4pm. Donation $10. 14 years and up.


Mandy Nolan & Ellen Briggs hit touring show [ITALIC]Women Like Us[/ITALIC] performing at Bentley Hall on Friday 2 Nov as a fundraiser for the Bentley Community Preschool and at the Victory Hotel in Mooball on Saturday 3 Nov raising bucks for Burringbar Primary!

Women Like Us – comedy fundraisers

2 Nov – Bentley Hall (Community Preschool) | 3 Nov – Victory Hotel, Mooball (Burringbar Primary)

Mandy Nolan and Ellen Briggs are the comedic superstars behind the successful touring show Women Like Us, and they’re coming to Bentley Hall to raise money for the preschool and the Victory Hotel in Mooball for a Burringbar Primary School fundraiser.

With seven kids between them, and more stories than a Liberal Party leadership challenge, Mandy and Ellen are small-town girls who know how to make a big noise. They have taken the raw power of their solo standup and combined forces to create not one but two hours of rapid-fire standup, delivering laughs almost as fast as they deliver babies. It’s relentless, and show after show audience members continue to be amazed that the two cannot only keep the pace, they build throughout the night, bringing audiences to their feet cheering for more.

Women Like Us is standup at its best, where Ellen and Mandy talk about housework, chickens, love, big undies, disappointment, resentment, sex when you’re drunk, fitbits, yoga farts, and being a menopausal woman dealing with teenage angst.

Nov 2 at Bentley Hall for the Bentley Community Preschool. The Victory in Mooball on Nov 3. Doors 6.30pm. Show 8pm. Curries available. Shows $35 Tix on womenlikeus.com.au, and venues



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Facing the River in chapters

Tweed Shire Council is telling the full story of how the Tweed community has rebuilt since the 2022 floods, and further damage from the 2024 floods and Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Putting their money where their mouth and conscience is

Climate action group Rising Tide say they will disrupt business at Tweed City ANZ today, as local long-term customers withdraw their life savings from the bank.

Bird flu reaches Western Australia

H5 avian flu has officially arrived in Western Australia, first discovered days ago in a dead migratory seabird near Esperance (700 km south-east of Perth), and since found in numerous other birds.

Momentum hosts free skate workshop for girls and women

Whether you are stepping on a skateboard for the first time, sharpening your skills or getting ready to compete, a free school holiday workshop is being offered to all female skaters up to 25 years.