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July 7, 2026

Knitting Nannas are off to Sydney – and they’re not happy

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Eclectic Selection for the week beginning 8 July 2026

Eclectic Selection: What’s on this week is a taste of some of the events that can be found in the Byron Shire and beyond this coming week.

Other News

Eclectic Selection for the week beginning 8 July 2026

Eclectic Selection: What’s on this week is a taste of some of the events that can be found in the Byron Shire and beyond this coming week.

First Nations voices at the opening and heart of writers festival

Byron Writers Festival opens on Bundjalung Country on August 14 with a Calling to Country led by local Arakwal Bundjalung custodian, Delta Kay, and this year will feature the inaugural Rhoda Roberts Oration, honouring the late, beloved Rhoda Roberts AO.

The Buttery celebrates NAIDOC Week with ‘Imagine’

The Buttery, in partnership with its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Committee, is proud to celebrate NAIDOC Week with a free community screening of the acclaimed First Nations animated feature film Imagine, inviting the Northern Rivers community to come together to reflect, learn and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, stories and achievements.

Dead whale towed back out to sea at Wooyung Beach

With a dead juvenile whale washed ashore near Crabbes Creek Beach south of Wooyung Road, Tweed Council say they are preparing to tow it back out to sea on tomorrow morning's high tide.

What’s on in Tweed for NAIDOC Week?

NAIDOC Week celebrations will be held from Sunday 5 July to Sunday 12 July 2026, under the national theme 50 Years of Deadly. 

Nudgel Nuts returns to Mullum Farmers Market

A familiar favourite has returned to the Mullumbimby Farmers Market, with Nudgel Nuts back for the new macadamia season. Owner...

Knitting Nannas take their message to Sydney. Photo Louise Somerville.

Today it is International Women’s Day and there are a bunch of grannies who are determined to do their darnedest to make sure there is a world for their grandchildren and their grandchildren’s grandchildren to inhabit.

These determined ladies have headed to Sydney to and their focus is ‘No Water, No Life’ and they want some action.

‘With climate change impacts increasing daily, we the people must step up to our politicians and demand they implement a climate action policy NOW if we are to leave our kiddies and future generations a livable planet,’ said spokesnanna Rosie Lee. 

The Knitting Nannas are uniting with other environmental groups to take the message ‘United to Protect Our Water – No Water, No Life’ – to politicians. They will be met by politicians from each major NSW party, who will take delivery of the list of actions requested from politicians.

Water to highest bidder is theft

The Knitting Nannas say governments at all levels are stealing our water, selling it to the highest bidder (cotton farms, coal and gas miners, water miners etc), or giving it away, and leaving those most vulnerable with no drinkable water.

An example of this is last week’s water auction, where coal miners outbid NSW farmers for scarce water in the Namoi Valley. Whitehaven Coal paid three times what farmers could afford for this water, in a time of unprecedented drought,’ said Nanna Rosie.

This is human rights abuse – and must be stopped. On the driest continent on Earth, protecting water is critical to every Australian.’

Support of the grandkids

’Today we will be joined by some School Strike 4 Climate youth. These young adults are an incredible inspiration to the Knitting Nannas, with their global movement growing daily,’ Nanna Rosie said.

‘They will continue their monthly strike, the next being Friday, March 15, until governments take climate action seriously, and the nannas support them by providing clean drinking water, sun protection and lots of nanna hugs to show them we care.’

The Knitting Nannas will make a colourful appearance outside Parliament House in Macquarie Street today from 9.40am till 1pm.



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Interview: Busby Marou

Busby Marou have cemented themselves as one of Australia’s premier musical acts, captivating audiences with their distinctly Australian storytelling, masterful musicianship, and undeniable onstage chemistry. For two decades, Tom Busby and Jeremy Marou have forged a musical partnership that blends rich harmonies, heartfelt lyrics, and the kind of effortless synergy that only comes from years of playing together.

Interview with Trent Dalton

The Byron Writers Festival will once again be treated to the delights of author and journalist Trent Dalton, who will be featured at the Jonson Street Stage on Saturday evening, 15 August, as well as throughout the event. Celebrating its 30th year, the Byron Writers Festival will, for the first time, be taking place around the town of Byron Bay from 14 to 16 August, with a mix of free and paid events.

Cinema: Moana

The Academy Award-nominated animated film sails into its live action debut in Moana, directed by Tony- and Emmy-winner Thomas Kail (Hamilton).

For your wellbeing

On Saturday, in Byron, they are holding a Psychic Health and Wellbeing Expo, at the Cavanbah Centre, Ewingsdale Road – this is a community-based event and all are welcome.