16.5 C
Byron Shire
June 9, 2026

Hot topic sessions at Byron Writers Festival

Latest News

Mono wins in Hawaii and Japan

Australian adaptive surfing champion Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart has once again celebrated success on the international stage. Mono claimed victory at...

Other News

Mullum Giants celebrate Old Boys Day

Sunday, 31 May saw everyone having some fun as the sun finally shone at the Mullumbimby Giants games which included the Old Boys Day. Photos by Sarah Archibald.

Lismore residents call to stop the demolition of homes

Community group Reclaim our Recovery are urging Lismore residents to join a gathering at the Lismore QUAD this Saturday from 11am to 'stop the demolitions of our Big Scrub heritage homes — and the NSW Reconstruction Authority needs to know we are not going away'.

Lennox development

The proposed Saltwood development at Ross Lane raises serious concerns for local residents. You cannot engineer away local knowledge. Residents with...

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.

Temporary home for Queer Family after heated debate

Byron Shire Council has voted to provide struggling local LGBTQIA+ support service Queer Family Inc with temporary access to a Council-owned property at peppercorn rent, following an impassioned plea from the organisation and a lengthy debate over governance and fairness.

Minimum requirements were never meant to be aspirations

The Echo’s recent report (2 May) on Cr Elia Hauge’s proposal for a community assessment panel for the old Mullumbimby Hospital site contained a sentence that deserves more than a passing read.

Clockwise: Bruce Pascoe, Jennifer Byrne, Tara June Winch, Tim Flannery

If you’re looking for new insights into some of the big issues pervading modern consciousness, look no farther than Byron Writers Festival 2019. Here’s an overview of just some of the hot-topic sessions you won’t want to miss at the three-day Festival.

Friday 2 August

With pressure mounting in response to the global climate crisis, it’s time to talk Environmental Solutions in this session with 2040 filmmaker Damon Gameau, space archeologist Alice Gorman, and award-winning author of Dark Emu Bruce Pascoe.

Parents and grandparents – don’t miss a timely exploration of how social media and screen time are affecting teenagers’ lives, as author David Gillespie and Mandy Nolan discuss how children are being set up for a lifetime of addiction in Teen Brains.

Saturday 3 August

David Leser and Jennifer Byrne come together for a critical conversation on Women, Men and the Whole Damn Thing: one of the most talked-about articles of 2018 recently expanded by Leser into his latest book that is making waves as the water-cooler book of the #MeToo era.

Meanwhile, we celebrate UNESCO’s International Year of Indigenous Languages with the important discussion around the need for Preserving Indigenous Languages with Daniel James, Sami Khatun, Patrick Nunn, and Tara June Winch.

Sunday 4 August

Sunday kicks off with an inspiring exploration of Living Consciously with tree enthusiast Sophie Cunningham, conservationist Tim Flannery, and The Gourmet Farmer’s Matthew Evans.

Sunday will also see retiring head of World Vision, Tim Costello, discuss the role and challenges of fighting for change in the session Social Activism. Plus, esteemed writer and educator John Marsden will share insights from his 30-year career writing for and working with young people. His ambitious manifesto The Art of Growing Up tackles the minefield that is growing up ‘happy’ in the 21st century.

For 1-day or 3-day passes, head to byronwritersfestival.com/tickets.


Recent Writers Festival news and articles:

Gran Slammers premier at Byron Writers Festival

The Grans slammed at yesterdays screening of the first Gran Slam poetry competition at the Byron Writers Festival.

Welcome to Byron Writers Festival 2019! 

Now more than ever our world needs writers, environmentalists, poets, commentators, politicians, and artists who together can shape stories of hope, courage, and change. At Byron Writers Festival 2019 we proudly bring more than 140 writers together to create a program brimming with diverse voices.

You’ll love the Byron Writers Festival if…

Check out what's to love at the Byron Writers Festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.



For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling.

If you are a local business owner help us and in turn we help you. All The Echo asks for is advertising, not a free ride. It is every advert in The Echo and on www.echo.net.au, which creates the space for all the stories and coverage of community events, happenings and concerns.

If you are a reader you can become a sponsor of The Echo. Your support keeps the us independent.

Even a small one-off or regular donation from you will help keep the echo’s independent voice alive and strong.

Support Us

Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.

You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire

You’re supporting The Echo, thank you

Your contribution is keeping independent, local journalism alive in the Northern Rivers.

Because of supporters like you, we can keep every story free for everyone — no paywall, no exceptions. Your money goes directly to funding our newsroom of 40-odd local workers covering the stories that matter to this community.

Tell us what you think, give us your opinion

The Echo loves your letters and comments 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, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.

The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and telephone number.

Online comments are no longer available.

Matthew Laverty recognised with OAM

Recognising his  passion for golf and long-term commitment to community service, Mullumbimby’s Matthew Laverty received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) from...

Eclectic Selection for the week beginning 10 June 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.

Interview with Peter O’Doherty

Australia’s legendary band Mental As Anything made an historic comeback in 2026 – the first in 25 years – as original founding members Peter O’Doherty and brother Reg Mombassa reunited, leading an exciting new lineup to perform once again under the iconic banner Mental As Anything.

Cinema: The Christophers

From acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh, The Christophers is a sharp, darkly comic exploration of art, legacy and deception, led by Golden Globe winner Ian McKellen and Emmy winner Michaela Coel.