Local identity Dave Howard passed away in the arms of his wife Libby and surrounded by the six children they share on Monday 14 November.
Dave had been diagnosed with stage 4 oesophageal cancer in July 2022, but after his fifth and final chemo, they learnt the tumours had spread.
The community has rallied behind Dave and Libby as they raised money to finish off their home in Main Arm after the impact of the floods. While Dave has not made it into their forever home, friends, family and the broader community are rallying around Libby and the children to get them into the home Dave had dreamed of, and had been building for them before his diagnosis.
You can support them by buying a raffle ticket in the Dave and Libby Howard REALLY BIG raffle that has $15,000 in prizes. The tickets are being sold through the Mullumbimby and District Neighbourhood Centre so that the money goes straight to supporting Libby and the children. They are hoping to sell all the tickets by 10 December when the prizes will be drawn at 5.30pm at the Middle Pub in Mullumbimby. You can browse the prizes and buy a ticket online.
Celebrating Dave
A Farewell for Dave is being held at the Billinudgel Hotel on Thursday, 24 November from 5.30pm. Bring a flower and it will be released into the ocean the following day. All are welcome to join in ‘celebrating, remembering and cheersing our beautiful mate, Davey’.
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. 
