15.5 C
Byron Shire
August 17, 2026

Power Pair Claim New Table Tennis Trophy

Latest News

Community groups share $1 million to help local environment

Three community projects will share in more than $1 million to help restore important habitat as part of the NSW Environmental Trust Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation program.

Other News

Byron Writers Festival turns 30 with a weekend of big ideas

Books, big ideas, Viking ghosts and even an early morning ocean dip will take over Byron Bay this weekend as the Byron Writers Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Don’t give up, give us!

Isn’t it interesting that the fossil fuel fearmongers are changing to top gear just at the moment when global...

How Byron’s getting high

It was Councillor Mike Watterson in early 1982 who managed to get the first height limits for Byron Shire passed through Byron Shire Council as the community fought against developers wanting to cover the Byron foreshore in high rises akin to the Gold Coast.

The Byron Writers Festival is open

Celebrating its 30th year, the Byron Writers Festival opened last night for the first time in the heart of Byron Bay.

Water tower: wifi vs spirit

The water tower in Paterson Street, Byron Bay, with all the strange wi-fi and graffiti on it, is destined...

Man charged over fatal Yamba boat capsize

Five months after a boat capsized crossing the Yamba coastal bar, killing two people, police have charged the vessel’s...

Janice holds her new trophy aloft.

By Ross Kendall

The Byron Bay Table Tennis Club held their inaugural mixed doubles tournament last week at Newrybar Hall and declared Ian Evans and Janice Best champions, after they won three from three matches.

Amazingly the duo only met each other on the night.

Mark Smith and Ashni Murdolo were the main rivals after winning three form four matches.

Ian Cohen and Vashti Eastern had to forfeit their last match owing to unforeseen circumstance, which also left the door open for the new team.

‘There are no champions, just luck on the night,’ Janice said.

‘It’s wonderful playing with such a competent partner, Ian was happy to share tips and his knowledge about game strategy.

‘Any pressure was totally alleviated by the goodwill of all players on the night,’ she said.

Teams including Richard Ray and Penny Young, and Shokei and Julia Fox were also competitive.

Memories of the big night will long linger.

‘I didn’t just get a trophy, I got a bottle of kombucha,’ Janice said.



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.

Tears, anger and joy at 2026 Byron Writers Fest

There was a lot less mud and a lot more walking at this year's glorious celebration of words, the Byron Writers Festival, which took place in a series of venues around Byron Bay over the last three days.

Widespread failure across Great Barrier Reef

The latest Australian and Queensland Government Reef Water Quality Report Card, reveals widespread failure across key metrics, sparking calls for urgent intervention to halt agricultural deforestation across Great Barrier Reef catchments.

Domestic carer charged with property offences

A domestic carer will face court charged with property offences near Tweed Heads following an extensive investigation by police.

Dear World climate action arts project

Artist Heather Matthew is tearing up old cotton clothing to make handmade paper worlds during Tweed Regional Museum’s street party on Saturday, September 5.