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Byron Shire
July 12, 2026

Life in a brave new COVID-19 world #2

Latest News

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.

Other News

Vale Ev King-Prime

Ev King-Prime opened the first art gallery in Byron and helped develop the nascent visual arts scene on the North Coast.

$5.5 million for surf clubs

The NSW government says the state's surf life saving clubs can now apply for a share of $5.5 million through the Surf Club Facility Program, to upgrade, rebuild or future-proof the facilities that keep beaches safe.

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.

Beyond Blue charity rugby day returns to Bruns this weekend

Brunswick Heads rugby team the Mullumbimby Moonshiners will gather at Alby Lofts Oval on Saturday, July 11, for their annual Beyond Blue Charity Day, with the club’s senior women’s team reforming after a 30-year playing hiatus to run onto the field.   

Byron floodplain

The current hardships facing Byron communities seem to reflect global power relations. Trump’s vision for humanity is ‘might is right’...

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Why I Love Being Dry

On 13 July I am four years sober. I am one of a growing number of people who decided to quit alcohol. It’s one of the best decisions of my life. My only regret is I didn’t do it sooner.

Hayo van der Woude, Mullumbimby

For evidence-based medicine, don’t look beyond Italy, where flu-vaccinated people died at a higher rate from COVID-19.

So the NRL players are, in my opinion, wrongly advised by the PM, and medical fraternity, to take the shots. I believe that these vaccines usually contain serious toxins.

Before ScoMo and today’s doctors were born, we had implicit faith in government and medicine.

Then laissez-faire capitalism saw corporate pharmaceutical giants become globalised, setting the agenda for governments and world governing bodies.

If Australia is any indication, it’s a very profitable business model. Health evolved into a mammoth sickness industry, where customers hardly need to show ID or use a bankcard. Natural health modalities are squeezed out.

This is a system the majority of us have been conditioned to trust, by sheer power of money and influence. Call it mind control, advertising, or political spin.

We need solid evidence for COVID-19 solutions. But Big Pharma is not required to prove that vaccines work.



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Plastic not so fantastic

There is nothing healthier than drinking some water – or so I’ve always told my kids. It doesn’t contain sugar or colour additives – as one person used to tell us as children, ‘it’s sky juice’! What could be better?

Ballina courthouse windows smashed, man charged

Police say a man will face court today, charged after 12 windows were allegedly smashed in Ballina last night.   Police say, 'About 10.35pm (Thursday 9 July 2026), police were called to Martin Street following reports of a man smashing windows'.

Alleged native tree removal continues in Lennox, says councillor

With a government agency now investigating the alleged clear felling of natives on a large private block in Lennox Head, Ballina Greens councillor Kiri Dicker has told The Echo that contractors were felling trees all morning, ‘trying to get the job done’.

Ocean Shores man charged with advocating terrorism online

Police say a 20-year-old Ocean Shores man is behind bars (refused bail) and will face court in Tweed Heads Local Court on 18 September, charged with advocating terrorism.