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.
The biggest gun buyback in 30 years began in NSW yesterday, with the first firearms set to be surrendered as part of the government’s commitment to reduce the number of guns in the community and help make NSW safer.
The arts are an essential industry. We need artists as much as we need accountants. We need dancers as much as we need doctors. We need comedians as much as we need civil engineers. We need filmmakers as much as we need financial planners. We need musicians as much as we need ministers.
There’s something special about biting into a perfectly ripe peach or nectarine, with juice running down your chin and the taste of summer in every mouthful. Stone fruit season is now underway, and local grower Rajesh Kumar is bringing a beautiful selection of fresh fruit to the farmers’ markets.
From COVID-19, to floods and from elections to festivals, 2022 was a MASSIVE year and The Echo photographers and photo shooting staff and other contributors were kept busy from day one to day 365 (and a quarter).
The Knitting Nannas Against Gas wanted us to choose carefully. Photo Tree Faerie.
The excitement of a Scott Morrison announcement was too much for local Councillors and staff who were snapped napping. Photo Jeff ‘Not Sleeping, Praying’ Dawson.
We can’t decide what took up more of our emotional space this year – COVID… (Photo Tree Faerie)
…or the floods? (Floodwater surges over the levee at Browns Creek Pumping Station, Lismore, 30 March 2022). Photo David Lowe.
Some were able to see the silver lining of the mud. Splendour 2022. Photo Jeff Dawson.
Photos by
Jeff ‘JD’ Dawson Tree Faerie (a.k.a. Eve Jeffery) David Lowe Simon Haslam Hans Lovejoy
2022 flooding aftermath in Mullumbimby
Ballina Byron Gateway Airport. Photo David Lowe.
Tuntable Creek Road was damaged by a landslip in the early 2022 floods. Photo David Lowe.
Local resident Eldon Wright. Photo David Lowe.
Vivienne Gorec with a photo of recent flood impacts around her house in West Ballina. Photo David Lowe.
Jacqui Sosnowski and Suvira McDonald at Ignite Studios in Ballina for the 10th anniversary Mud Trail launch. Photo David Lowe.
Looking from edge of DA area towards Norton Street and North Creek. Photo David Lowe.
Doug Luke and Jan Barham. Photo Tree Faerie.
Simon Greaves and Gyan Evans. Photo Tree Faerie.
Alison Waters. Photo Tree Faerie.
Catherine Cusack. Photo Tree Faerie
Cr Steve Krieg, Kevin Hogan MP, Marie Gale, John Barnes OAM, Gary Goldberg, Janelle Saffin MP and Jim Barnes. Photo Tree Faerie.
The Mullum Cares crew Celine Massa, Sasha Mainsbridge and Bec Talbot at their new office in the Railway Shed Yard. Photo Tree Faerie.
Byron Hospital Auxiliary’s Margot Coggan, President Mollie Strong and Kay Sandon sizing up their clubs for the charity golf day. Photo Tree Faerie.
Susie Russell. Photo Tree Faerie.
CWA member and handicraft creator, Ruth Kirby, with CWA President, Rebecca Dickson. Photo Tree Faerie.
Byron Bay headland. Photo David Lowe.
Lennox Head Photo David Lowe.
NSW Nationals candidate for Ballina, Joshua Booyens. Photo David Lowe.
Venetia Scott and Joel Orchard outside Wardell CORE’s new premises in the old bank building at 3 Sinclair Street, Wardell. Photo David Lowe.
Everyone’s favourite sign. Photo David Lowe.
Dave Carter, President Ballina Jetboat Surf rescue. Photo David Lowe.
Graham Gooding, Francoise Sauvere, Keith Williams and Judy Dean at Ballina pre-poll yesterday. Photo David Lowe.
Part of the audience and stage for ‘One From The Heart’ concert at Lismore Showground, 15 May 2022. Photo David Lowe.
Robyn Hargrave at the Lennox Shed. Photo David Lowe.
The most famous prawn in Australia. Photo David Lowe.
Bins floating in flooded Lake Ainsworth. Photo David Lowe.
Lismore Presbyterian Church sign, 30 March 2022. Photo David Lowe.
Flood gauge at Lismore Rowing Club with water still rising, 30 March 2022. Photo David Lowe.
Section of levee wall behind Spinks Park damaged in previous flood, with flood lapping behind. Lismore, 30 March 2022. Photo David Lowe.
Flood rubbish around You Are Here sign in Lismore, 7 March 2022. Photo David Lowe.
Sikh volunteers Manpreet Singh and Lakhwinder Singh from Melbourne handing out free food in Lismore, 7 March 2022. Photo David Lowe.
All who knew and loved Jack Paris Kingdom Lambert-Crittle joined in a celebration of his life on Monday, December 12 at the park opposite New Brighton’s Yum Yum Tree Cafe. Photo Jeff Dawson
Yantra de Vilder tinkles the keys, while Nathan Groves provides the muscle for the move from the Central Coast. The piano recipients here are the Quirke family: Steve, Dominique, Astariah, Zaia, and Tiani. Photo Jeff ‘Tinkled Pink’ Dawson.
Pictured are Brian Kelly, NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Sam Farraway (Nationals), Mayor Michael Lyon, Byron Historical Society President, Donald Maughan, and Brian Parks, son of the Frogs last driver, Len Parks. Photo Jeff ‘Croaked’ Dawson
Young locals getting in on the act with Shorty Brown the Caper Festival. Image: Jeff “this ain’t know act people” Dawson.
Splendour in the Mud 2022. Photo Jeff Dawson.
DJ and Delta with some of the Weaving for Reconciliation exhibits. Photo Jeff Dawson.
Giving it all he’s got, Jimmy Barnes on Easter Sunday. Photo Jeff Dawson.
PETA’s Angela with a feline friend. Photo Jeff Dawson
John Dawson. Photo Jeff “First Born Son” Dawson.
Suzu with a flower from the bush tucker shrub, Melastoma affine, or blue tongue tree. It’s known for its sweet berries, which stain your tongue blue. This is one of the many treats growing in Federal’s Mandala Garden. Photo Jeff ‘Blue Tongue Press Reptile’ Dawson
‘Darrrrrrrrling – there is no roaming for this feline fella .Photo Tree Faerie.
With a bucket full of wool, co-founder, Nanna Clare has been knitting this ‘scarf’ since the dawn of the Nanna – now it about a Nannametre long (close to 50 earth metres). Photo Tree Faerie.
Grafton Nannas including Nanna Sarah and Nanna Helen came up for the celebration. Photo Tree Faerie
Steve, Liam and Hiep at home in Alstonville. Photo Tree Faerie.
Mayor Steve Krieg was looking forward to seeing Jon Stevens. Photo Tree Faerie.
Mehreen Faruqi and Mandy Nolan during the lead-up to the election. Photo Tree Faerie.
Piper Scott Cameron played during the ceremony. Photo Tree Faerie.
Mandy Nolan. Photo Tree Faerie.
Green leader Adam Bandt. Photo Tree Faerie.
Kashmir Miller. Photo Tree Faerie.
The warrior women of The Channon rescue and recovery opps. Photo Tree Faerie.
Part of The Channon recovery team Helen, Jo, Annie and Robyn, with some moral support from Charlie Wuff. Photo Tree Faerie.
False Idols is choreographed, but again not in the traditional sense of steps and the audience are in for some surprises. Photo Tree Faerie.
Hanabeth Luke. Photo Tree Faerie.
Uncle Goongie John Roberts and Aunty Leonee Nowta say it is upon them to protect Country. Photo Tree Faerie
The Knitting Nannas Against Gas wanted u to choose carefully. Photo Tree Faerie.
Greens MP Sue Higginson. Photo Tree Faerie
Mullumbimby in flood during February March 2022. Photo Simon Haslam
The epitome of cuteness. Nina feeding a baby lama at the Mullun Show. Image: Jeff ‘Make Mine a Double’ Dawson.
Local author Sarah Armstrong with a copy of her newly released children’s book ‘Big Magic’. Image Jeff Dawson
Scott Sledge President of Northern Rivers Guardian . Photo Jeff Dawson
Committee member and stall holder Andy McOscar and Robyn Kelly were VERY excited to be back in the village. Photo Tree Faerie.
The Tree Faerie bought this citrus from Tangelo Tony at the Lone Pine Nursery stall. Photo Tree Faerie.
President of the Liberation Larder, Liz Jackson. Photo Tree Faerie.
All for the love of Lismore. Photo Tree Faerie.
Nimbin Neighbourhood & Information Centre manager Natalie Meyer says Council has alreay voted to give them the land and now they might take it back. Photo Tree Faerie.
Like a loose tooth, one of the massive pylons at Wardell was pushed aside was floowaters and debris. Photo Tree Faerie.
Miila Bijou and her mum Jazuli are doing their best to raise funds for flood-affected people. Photo Tree Faerie.
Bronwyn Morris says Clean-up Australia Day events help engender community. Photo Tree Faerie.
Skye Roberts before speaking at Public Access Rous County Council meeting. Photo Tree Faerie.
Lismore’s new Mayor Steve Krieg, will Chair his first meeting on Tuesday, January 11. Photo Tree Faerie.
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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.
Izaac Lee Alford loves social media messages, and lives on his daddy’s cattle farm just out of Gympie, a lovely town where it only needs to sprinkle to be flooded. It has also for many years been One Nation central...
The Small SHIFT: I Will Survive event where seven women, spanning seven decades, tell their story in seven minutes, is back for the fourth year running on Thursday, 5 November.
Brunswick Heads Public School just held another fantastic Halloween Fair to raise funds for the school, in a celebration of creativity, hard work and spookiness.
Neighbourhood and community centres are struggling to keep their doors open and are cutting services because they don’t have ongoing core funding to cover staffing and operating costs.
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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.
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