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Byron Shire
April 26, 2024

Vale local bright light, Heeling Dean 

Latest News

Housing not industrial precinct say Lismore locals

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Mullumbimby railway station burns down

At around midnight last night, a fire started which engulfed the old Mullumbimby railway station. It's been twenty years since the last train came through, but the building has been an important community hub, providing office space for a number of organisations, including COREM, Mullum Music Festival and Social Futures.

Helen Dean, AKA Heeling. Photo Eve Jeffery

Vale Heeling (Helen Dean), a much-loved and long-time member of the Mullumbimby and Byron Shire community.

Heeling passed away around 4pm Monday January 24 at the Tweed Hospital, after a major cardiac arrest.

She had earlier been admitted to Tweed Hospital.

She will be very missed by her family, friends, and the wider community and even farther afield. 

Such was Heeling’s big beautiful heart and smile that it shone so much love to all who crossed her path. A light so bright it reached right across the planet.

Locals know Heeling as a popular local personality, tarot reader, and alternative therapist.

Her wisdom and easy laugh brought joy to so many hearts everywhere. 

Community spirit

Heeling was also known for her community spirit: volunteering at the Byron Writers Festival, Schoolies (every year), Bluesfest, the Mullum Museum, Pets for Life, and elsewhere. 

Always happy to lend a hand, she would be the first to reach out to support a friend in need, in a crisis, even supporting a friend through a major health crisis.

Nothing was too big or small for Heeling.

Her bright light and joy will be very much missed and felt by so many in the Byron Shire. 

We offer our heartfelt thanks to the ICU medical teams at both Lismore and Tweed hospitals, where Heeling had been receiving care since Christmas Day.  

We also extend our heartfelt thanks to all the healers, those who held prayers for Heeling and those that just sent so much love to her during her time in hospital. 

See Mandy Nolan’s tribute


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A fond farewell to Mungo’s crosswords

This week we sadly publish the last of Mungo MacCallum’s puzzles. Before he died in 2020 Mungo compiled a large archive of crosswords for The Echo.

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Driver charged following Coffs Harbour fatal crash

A driver has been charged following a fatal crash in the Coffs Harbour area yesterday.

Geologist warns groundwater resource is ‘shrinking’

A new book about Australian groundwater, soil and water has been published by geologist Philip John Brown.