The NSW Environment Awards, hosted by the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, Nature Conservation Council NSW, was recently held at Customs House in Sydney.
A sold-out gala in Lismore has raised more than $200,000 for Women Up North (WUN) and its Bugalma Bihyn Aboriginal Women’s Refuge, which can accommodate up to five families.
The NSW Environment Awards, hosted by the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, Nature Conservation Council NSW, was recently held at Customs House in Sydney.
Perched on the edge of the Brunswick River estuary, binoculars poised, Jan and I are searching for beach-nesting birds. It’s a magnificent morning in early spring and these birds are starting to build their nest scrapes in the sand.
Parents at Byron Bay Public School (BBPS) have started a petition to ask the NSW Department of Education (DOE) to reconsider their decision to replace Acting Principal, Mel Davis, and to allow her to continue permanently as principal.
It is time to make Byron cheerful for Christmas and myou can join the fun with handmade bunting to decorate your shop windows and help make Byron shine this Christmas.
The Knitting Nannas celebrated their 10th Nannaversary in Lismore at the place where they met each week for many years. Photo Tree Faerie.
Love them or adore them, there is no denying that the Knitting Nannas Against Gas and greed (K.N.A.G) made, and still make, a lasting impression on those who would dig up the earth’s resources for profit and other nefarious agendas.
With a bucket full of wool, co-founder, Nanna Clare has been knitting this ‘scarf’ since the dawn of the Nanna – now it’s about a Nannametre long (close to 50 earth metres). Photo Tree Faerie.
Nanna Clare says it’s been 10 years since the guerilla espionage not-so-sweet little ladies now started their ruthless needling of Metgasco. ‘And, of course, the state “unrepresentative member for Lismore”, Thomas George. Where are they now?’
The Knitting Nannas arose with the dawn of CSG mining in the Northern Rivers and co-founder Nanna Clare says that a true Nanna fact is that they knitted ‘Thommo’ in every Thursday including Christmas days from the end of June 2012 to the Thursday of the 2017 flood. ‘We moved from there to our old friend KHo’s (Kevin Hogan) office until the 2022 floods.’
Nanna came from Sydney, Bellingen and Kyogle to celebrate and Grafton Nannas including Nanna Sarah and Nanna Helen came up for the celebration. Photo Tree Faerie
Nanna Clare says that during the past 10 years Nannas have had many an adventure with friends and foes in our battle against CSG mining in the Northern Rivers and further afield. ‘At one stage we had 40 plus Nanna loops across Australia and overseas.
‘We have been yelled at, told to get a clucking job and/or to get our tits out, we have been driven at and hit by utes, and sworn at by Honourable Members of Parliament.
‘Nannas have been arrested, charged and locked up. They have attached themselves to very big trucks, smaller trucks, gates and Devices.
‘Fortunately, we have lost very few Nannas to the big yarning circle in the sky, which goes to show little old ladies are tough as old boots.’
2020 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
To celebrate the tenth Nannaversary, K.N.A.G held a knit-in at the site of their old foe’s office on the corner of Conway and Carrington Streets in Lismore on yesterday. Nannas from Grafton, Sydney, Bellingen and Kyogle also came to sit, knit and eat Nanna treats and they were joined by some Poppies and Kiddies.
Nanna Clare said talking to The Echo had taken the wind out of her. ‘Time for a nap.’
Who can get a word (or photo) in edgewise? Nanna co-founder Nanna Clare with Nanna Jenny and Nanna Judi at the big catch-up in Lismore yesterday. Photo Tree Faerie.
Actions Timeline
8 June 2012: KNAG was born – Clare Twomey and Lindy Scott at Shannonbrook Ponds
30 June 2012: First KN knit-in outside MP Thomas George’s office. These knit-ins continued weekly (Thursdays) up to the big Lismore flood of 2017.
June 2012 to January 2013: KN conducted well site tours around Casino.
12 August 2012: Knitting Nannas Clare, Lindy, Frances, Jenny, Yvonne, Jally and Louise Bridging the Divide bus tour around the Tara/Chinchilla gas fields.
September 2012 onwards: Roadside vigils outside the Metgasco Depot in Casino weekly for many months
4 November 2012: 2012:Knit-in along the route of the Seismic Testing equipment
November 2012: NR Nannas travelled to Tamworth for the State Parliament sitting.
March 2013: First of many fundraisers, starting with Rock The Gate concert at LWC to raise funds for the health testing of Tara residents. Many meal cookups fundraisers at Lismore City Bowlo also.
April 2013: NR and QLD Nannas participated in the first of annual visits to Acland for ANZAC day memorials. Nannas knitted/crocheted wreaths etc each year for placement on the memorial.
26 May 2013: Franklin Horses ride to Canberra. NR Nannas, Dr Geralyn McCarron etc travelled down to Canberra for the arrival of the horses at Parliament.
June 2013: NR Nannas joined other NR residents to travel to Canberra for a rally at Parliament House.
13 June 2013: Northern Rivers Portrait Prize ceremony. Rhonda Baker’s portrait of Clare was bought by art curator Philip Bacon and was gifted back to the Lismore Gallery for showing.
July 2013: Nannas screened Promised Land at BCC cinemas to raise funds for the CSG battle.
December 2013: Glenugie blockade and camp presence until when police aided the rig to enter the drill site on 7 January 2014.
January 2014: Doubtful Creek blockade and camp presence.
February to May 2014: Nannadome was setup at Camp Liberty where nannas provided NannaCare to arrestees and protectors up to 18th May when Minister Anthony Roberts cancelled the licence.
5 August 2014: Northern Rivers nannas went to Sydney to assist the establishment of the Sydney Knitting Nannas and Manly Knitting Nannas loops.
Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) declared Knitting Nannas Climate Heroes for 2014.
October 2014: Gloucester AGL blockade. NR Nannas travelled to Gloucester to assist with establishing the Gloucester Knitting Nannas loop. NR nannas participated in this blockade over the period to when AGL withdrew.
2014: First of many trips to support the Gomeroi and North West protectors – Pilliga protest to keep Santos out of the Pilliga.
28 February 2015: Dogs Against Gas gathering and fundraiser.
March 2015: First Knitting Nannas Against Gas ‘Inter-nanna-national Conference’ was held in Lismore, attracting approx 75 nannas from across NSW and QLD.
1 July 2015: Nannas travelled to Chinchilla to support John Jenkins in his court appearance.
12 September 2015: Nannas participated in the international project ‘Ground Beneath Our Hearts’ at Bentley.
7 November 2015: Nannas participated in the Liverpool Plains ‘Harvest Festival’
18 January 2016: Pilliga Leewood Water Plant 3 Nannas locked on and were arrested.
21 February 2016: Pilliga Push protest action in Pilliga
27 August 2016: KNAG Conference in Chinchilla.
25 August 2017: KNAG Conference Narrabri.
1 December 2017: KNAG 100th week Protest in Martin Place, Sydney.
1 March 2018: Nannas in Brisbane outside Art Gallery
8 March 2018: International Womens Day action at NSW Parliament: United to Protect Our Water – No Water No Life.
August 2018: KNAG was jointly awarded Australian Activist of the year 2018 with Annie Kia.
August 2018: KNAG Conference in Newcastle area.
Photo Eve Sinton.
Knitting Nannas take their message to Sydney. Photo Louise Somerville.
Knitting Nannas on guard at the Byron lighthouse. (Picture Gwilym Summers)
The planet doesn’t have any rights to vote – the Knitting Nannas want us to vote for it. Photo Tree Faerie.
2021 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
The Knitting Nannas were busy bees. Photo Tree Faerie.
The Knitting Nannas standing up and sitting down for koalas in Casino.
2020 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
Knitting Nannas Against Gas in action at Bentley blockade.
Photo Tree Faerie.
Lismore’s Knitting Nannas Against Gas are helping you collect thingies next Thursday. Photo Tree Faerie.
KNAG Nannas prepping for their puppetry of the polly. Photo Gwilym Summers.
The cover of the 2021 Earth Guardians calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
Photo Eve Sinton.
Photo Eve Sinton.
2020 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
Nanna Jally reads about being a ‘person of interest’ in The Echo. Photo Eve Sinton.
2021 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
Knitting Nannas take their electric convoette to Labor’s Patrick Deegan to discuss their concerns. Photo Tree Faerie.
Knitting Nannas with Labor’s Patrick Deegan voicing their concerns over Adani. Photo Tree Faerie.
Knitting Nannas take their electric convoette to Labor’s Patrick Deegan to discuss their concerns. Photo Tree Faerie.
Knitting Nannas take their message to Sydney. Photo Louise Somerville.
Knitting Nannas take their message to Sydney. Photo Louise Somerville.
2020 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
Knitting Nannas point out that it is the only one we have as they take their message to Sydney. Photo Louise Somerville.
Knitting Nannas joined by the younger generation as they take their message to Sydney. Photo Louise Somerville.
2021 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
Knitting Nannas take their message to Sydney. Photo Louise Somerville..
Knitting Nannas Lindy Scott (left) and Clare Twomey (right) with former Human RIghts Commissioner at Saturday’s (June 30) lecture. Photo Tree Faerie
Knitting Nannas wore their solar panelled hats to the launch for a bit of sun loving in Lismore. Photo Tree Faerie.
Sitting and Knitting and knotting and plotting and save the land, air and water for the kiddies. Photo Tree Faerie.
The Knitting Nannas at the Byron lighthouse. The Byron Knitting Nannas Against Gas have today launched a ‘Nanna Coastguard’ at the Byron lighthouse.
(picture Gwilym Summers)
A span of Nannas across the Narrabri Creek. Photo Naomi Crystal.
Lismore and Kyogle Nannas before the she-nanna-gans began at the annual Nannalution dinner. Photo Tree Faerie.
The Knitting Nannas enjoyed a great weekend in Narrabri. Photo Tree Faerie.
Nannas and others – Gomeroi woman JudyKaye Knox and Nanna Judi Summers in a show of First Nation and non-indognous unity demonstrated a lock on “thing” at the Nanna Conference in Narrabri. Photo Tree Faerie.
Knitting Nannas Against Gas-Byron Shire protest last Friday at Mullumbimby, northern NSW, against Commbank’s funding of Adani.
The Knitting Nanna ‘knit in’ took place on Friday, 2 June outside the Commonwealth Bank in Mullumbimby. They are requesting that the CBA cut all ties with Adani. Photo supplied.
The Knitting Nannas Against Gas (KNAG) held their inaugural knit-in outside the Commonwealth Bank in Byron Bay last Friday. Nanna Jinta and Nanna Rosie say that the financial institution can have a hand in stopping coal mining. Photo Kieren Nugent
2021 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
Nannas Janine, Jally and Sandra visited the new office upstairs in Carrington Street. Photo Tree Faerie.
Photo Tree Faerie.
KNAG found Kevin’s new office in Carrington Street.
2020 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
Knitting Nannas on the Community Soapbox. Photo Tree Faerie.
Spokesnanna Clare watches as police leave Kevin Hogan’s office in Molesworth Street. Photo Tree Faerie.
2021 Nanna Calendar. Earth Guardian Nannas are here to save to save the land, air and water for the kiddies. Photo Tree Faerie.
Northern Rivers Knitting Nannas Against Gas are off to Chinchilla in Queensland for their national conference. Here are some having a knit-in outside Page MP Kevin Hogan’s office in Lismore recently. (Darren Coyne)
Mayhenm in the kitchen and Nanna take over the Bowlo for a fundraiser. Photo Tree Faerie.
Knitting Nannas want you to know they vote.
Nannas Meryl and Angela with their convict outfits on. (supplied)
Byron shire activist Christina Charley, Angela Dalu of Lismore, Dominique Jacobs of Gloucester, and Therese Mason, of Lismore, appeared before magistrate David Heilpern, this morning. (picture Darren Coyne)
NSW Labor leader Luke Foley (front & centre) with local Labor luminaries Justine Elliot (left), Janelle Saffin (front, right) and Jenny Dowell (rear right) plus Knitting Nannas and members of Lock the Gate in Lismore.
2020 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
The Knitting Nannas turned out to hear from the Opposition leader.
2021 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
A police officer reading move on directions to Knitting Nannas at Santos’ Leewood facility at Narrabri yesterday (January 18). Photo Johanna Evans
Knitting Nannas Clare Twomey and Rosie Lee. Photo Tree Faerie – Cloudcatcher Media.
Ballina’s Knitting Nannas join Ballina MP Tamara Smith (fourth from left) at her office yesterday to celebrate the end of CSG exploration on the northern rivers.
Knitting Nannas Judi Summers and Louise Somerville. Photo Tree Faerie.
Knitting Nannas outside the Metgasco office in Casino. (supplied)
The Knitting Nannas taking tea with new Ballina MP, Greens member Tamara Smith. Under former Nationals MP Don Page they usually got to sit on the pavement. Photo supplied
More than two dozen Nannas held a knit-in outside Lismore MP Thomas George’s office.
Knitting Nanna Louise Somerville makes the point that the Nannas always obey the law. (Darren Coyne)
Knitting Nanna Angela Dalu makes the point to Labor leader Luke Foley that the Nannas want a state-wide ban on coal seam gas. (Darren Coyne)
2021 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
Exceprt from The Nanna Wrap, music video by the Knitting Nannas.
Knitting Nannas founder Clare Twomey gives Greens candidate Adam Guise some tips on how to strike a ‘Thomas George’ pose at the opening of the Greens party office in Lismore last night. (Darren Coyne)
The Ballina Knitting Nannas with Kayak 4 Earth’s Steve Posselt and a supporter outside the National Party’s Ballina election office in Kerr Street prior to Mr Posselt’s adventure. Photo supplied
2021 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
Some of last years winners –Peter Hardwick, Pancho Colladetti, Melissa Nesbitt and Rani Brown.
2020 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
Knitting Nannas have gathered outside the office of Lismore MP Thomas George for more than three years calling for a gas-free northern rivers. (Darren Coyne)
2021 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
NSW Labor leader John Robertson chats with members of the Knitting Nannas Against Gas group. (Darren Coyne)
2020 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
It wouldn’t be a Bentley gathering without the Knitting Nannas.
A stitch in time: Knitting Nannas Val Gilmore, Rosemarie, Kerrie and Debbie Clement outside Ballina Shire Council chambers. Nannas will be gathering outside Lismore MP Thomas George’s office today. (file pic)
A documentary about the northern rivers’ Knitting Nannas has been selected to screen at Sydney’s Flickerfest.
Knitting Nannas mascot. Photo Facebook
The Knitting Nannas at Metgasco’s Glenugie CSG test site in December last year. Photo Jan Barham
2020 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
Knitting Nanna Linda locked on at Bentley.
Nanna Jally delivers a letter to a pollie. Photo Tree Faerie..
2021 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
Life without water doesn’t exist… Knitting Nannas take their message to Sydney. Photo Louise Somerville.
2020 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
2020 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
Knitting nanas protesting against the Adani coal mine outside the Commonwealth bank in Mullumbimby. Photo Jeff Dawson.
Knitting Nanna Rosie serves up a perfect baklava at the Nanna’s Great Big Greek Swing Fling. Photo Tree Faerie.
Knitting Nanna Dominique Jacobs locked on at Santos’ Narrabri gasfield in the Pilliga forest.
Knitting Nonna Angela Dalu in the Pilliga. Photo Tree Faerie.
Louise Somerville, a Knitting Nanna from Lismore, spent more than 3 hours locked to the gate at the Santos wastewater facility in the Pilliga Forest.
Knitting Nanna Louise Somerville counts down to midnight at Lismore MP Thomas George’s office on June 30, marking the end of the government’s CSG buyback scheme with no northern rivers PELs purchased. Photo supplied
Knitting Nanna Anne Thompson with Labor leader Luke Foley and his supporters.
2021 Nanna Calendar. Photo Tree Faerie.
Knitting Nanna Anne Thompson, right, with local farmers locking on at the gate on Saturday. Photo David Lowe
Rock Valley Knitting Nanna Angela Dalu. Photo Marie Cameron
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.
Two young members of Byron Bay Surf Lifesaving Club have delivered outstanding performances at the Paddle NSW State Sprint Championships, held at the Penrith International Regatta Centre over the weekend.
A Northern Rivers family might be forced to leave their life behind without direct intervention by the Minister for Immigration, Tony Burke. The de Silva family have been living locally since 2020, contributing significantly to local businesses and to disaster recovery.
Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, in partnership with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) today released the GenCost 2025–26 Final Report, finding renewable energy supported by storage is helping to protect Australia against global energy shocks and continues to provide the lowest cost pathway for Australia’s electricity system to achieve net zero emissions.
Choose how you'd like to support local journalism.
$
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
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. 
