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Byron Shire
November 9, 2026

Next wave of authors put pen to paper

Latest News

Green Heroes among 2026 NSW Environment Award winners

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.

Other News

Role of the Greens

Recent articles and letters in The Echo have provided different perspectives about Australian politics today and the Australian Greens. There...

Cartoon of the week – 4 November, 2026

The Echo loves your letters 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, send us your epistles.

New Tweed Heads Hub backed by $3.8 million commitment

The newly opened Veteran and Family Hub at Tweed Heads will be backed by a renewed $3.8 million commitment from RSL NSW to sponsor veteran and family services, delivered by partner charity RSL LifeCare.

Sad: 57 Station St

If the proposed ‘affordable’ housing development is ever built on the car park at 57 Station Street, Mullumbimby it...

Work starts on eight-lane athletics track in Lismore

Construction has begun on an eight-lane athletics track at Southern Cross University’s Lismore campus, giving Northern Rivers schools and clubs a competition-standard venue closer to home when it opens in mid-2027.

Questions remain over October Belongil Creek fish kill

The artificial opening of the Belongil Creek, an Intermittently Closed and Open Lake and Lagoon (ICOLL), on Monday, 12 October led to yet another significant fish kill with locals and vistors advised to avoid the area and not swim nearby.

BWF Residency Writing Program Alex Grantham, Kiralee Strong, mentor Sarah Armstrong, Megan Jennaway and Ali Chigwidden. Photo Tree Faerie.

This month, four lucky participants embarked on a five-day writing adventure, the Byron Writers Festival Residential Mentorship 2023. 

Organisers say the residency was an opportunity to work on manuscripts with the guidance of a distinguished mentor, bringing them another step closer to their dreams of becoming published authors. 

Mentor and author, Sarah Armstrong, added, ‘This is a really important program for regional writers. We have so many talented writers in this area and it’s crucial to support them with programs like this’. 

‘It’s been thrilling to see the four writers’ manuscripts develop over the week. 

‘I look forward to seeing them in print.’ 

Now in its 22nd year, the Residential Mentorship is a renowned program whose notable alumni include Jesse Blackadder, Jarrah Dundler, Bronwyn Birdsall, Mirandi Riwoe, Jessie Cole and Russell Eldridge.

If you’d like to enter your manuscript for this unique opportunity next year, join as a member in February 2024 and keep an eye out for when submissions open for Byron Writers Festival Residential Mentorship 2024 at byronwritersfestival.com.

For more info visit byronwritersfestival.com.



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Remembrance Day 2026: 11am, 11 November

It is estimated that in WWl there were 20 million dead and 20 million injured. From a population base of fewer than five million,...

Love books? Join Friends of the Library

Friends of the Libraries, Byron Shire are looking for some fresh, new, younger faces to join the group and help keep it moving forward.

Racehorses shot for pet food by NSW breeder

Thirteen thoroughbred horses deemed no longer useful, have been destroyed with eight horses destroyed by firearm at Berkeley Park Stud.

Byron Bay Surf Lifesaving Club youngsters shine

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.