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Byron Shire
June 19, 2026

Can you donate and share the dignity?

Latest News

Hemp industry given boost with development plan

A Hemp Industry Development Plan has been announced by the NSW government, which promises 'to unlock new opportunities for NSW businesses and add value to the state's low-THC hemp industry, which is forecast to become a $100 million Australian industry by 2032'.

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Bernie Browning from LJ Hooker in Brunswick Heads is collecting sanitary items and treats for the #ItsInTheBag collection. Photo Tree Faerie.

Eve Jeffery

Sanitary items should be a right, not a privilege, and the Share the Dignity charity have begun their 2019 #itsinthebag appeal.

Share the Dignity asks our community to spare a thought for the women, children, and teenage girls experiencing homelessness, sleeping rough, or seeking refuge in domestic violence shelters.

In an effort to ensure that these women and girls do not go without, the charity has launched its It’s In the Bag Christmas Appeal. This gives local women and girls doing it tough over the holiday period a reason to smile by providing them with handbags filled with essential hygiene products, as well as a few extra little treats.

Locally, the The LJ Hooker Foundation are participating in this event and Bernie Browning from the Brunswick Heads LJ Hooker office is already collecting items for this year’s appeal.

‘I’m a big believer in helping anyone who is down and out, especially a fellow woman,’ says Bernie. ‘We should help people out and build them back up.’

The idea is to dig around in your cupboard and get rid of a handbag you never use (we all have one) and fill it with sanitary items and maybe some treats.

The charity is collecting three types of bags: Baby Bags including wipes, dummies, maternity pads, anything a bub or a nursing mum might use; a Teen Bag with soap, deodorant, knickers, phone cards, lip gloss, pads and tampons; and the Woman Bag, with meal vouchers, shampoo, moisturiser, movie tickets, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and sunscreen are also great items to put in the bag.

‘We are encouraging people to pop a note or card in the bag as well to make it personal so the women who receive the bags feel like someone really cares,’ said Bernie.

Items can be dropped off at The LJ Hooker in Brunswick Heads until 22 November.



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Gambling harm recognised by Tweed Council, supported by Wesley Mission

Faith-based, not-for-profit organisation providing community services in NSW, Wesley Mission, has welcomed Tweed Shire Council’s decision to publicly recognise the impact of gambling harm and advocate for stronger harm-minimisation measures.

Winter Warmer fundraiser for homelessness

The annual Winter Warmer Homelessness Relief campaign, hosted by Dharma Care, will return for 2026 with cabaret at Salt, Kingscliff, on Thursday 2 July, headlined by comedian Mandy Nolan, interactive performance artist The Space Cowboy and the Kinship Doobai Dancers, with a Welcome to Country from Aunty Jackie.

Tweed Shire Council presents flood resilience series – part one

Over the coming weeks, Tweed Shire Council will present a flood resilience series, which looks at how 'Tweed's story is different from the standard flood recovery narrative and what happened next'.

Community housing industry call for major expansion in upcoming NSW budget

The community housing industry are calling on the NSW government to use next week's State Budget to unlock a major expansion of community housing.