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Byron Shire
June 16, 2026

Behind Paul Watson

Latest News

Byron Shire Rebels gutsy efforts

A day of contrasting rugby fortunes for the Rebels at Ballina, with the Men’s XV putting in a gutsy...

Other News

Tipping point

It is noted in the last edition of The Echo that six new dwellings with swimming pools are to...

E-bikes rule

Teenage gangs on e-bikes now rule our roads at night in Byron Bay. Driving, or even walking, in the hours...

More hands up for the seat of Ballina in 2027

More candidates are putting up their hands to run for the seat of Ballina at next year’s state election.

Do you want the rail trail completed? Sign the petition

The local Byron and Mullumbimby chambers of commerce, and the Northern Rivers Rail Trail Supporters (NRRTS) are asking everyone who supports making the rail trail happen to get on board and sign up to support the rail trail at www.northernriversrailtrail.com.au/support.

Seas the Day in Kingscliff this weekend

This weekend the fourth NRMA Insurance Seas The Day women’s surf festival is back at Kingscliff Beach with Surfing...

The Pocket Winter Festival bringing you music, food and fun

The Pocket Winter Festival is set to return on Sunday, 21 June, from 10am to 2pm, bringing together the community for a day of music, food, entertainment and family fun at The Pocket Public School.

The accusation of Paul Watson being ‘a traitor to the cause’ of marine conservation is possibly the most ludicrous and risible statement ever published in The Echo.

Having been alongside Paul for many years around the world at International Whaling Commissions, S4C campaigns and Sea Shepherd operations in the Mediterranean, the Faro Islands, Australia and Antarctica, I can only hope that all Australians will support Paul Watson’s vision and determination to once again stand unequivocally against a likely invasion at the end of this year by Japan’s whaling fleet (which includes a massive new factory ship) into the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and Australian Antarctic territorial waters.

Surfers for Cetaceans remains in total solidarity with Paul Watson and his new navy. Please support his foundation.

Howie Cooke, South Golden Beach



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Local boxing legend visits Byron Boxing

Kyogle heavyweight, Athol McQueen, who represented Australia at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and famously floored a then-unknown Joe Frazier, visited Byron Boxing at the...

Seas the Day in Kingscliff this weekend

This weekend the fourth NRMA Insurance Seas The Day women’s surf festival is back at Kingscliff Beach with Surfing Australia. The world’s largest female participation...

Interview with Drover

Doing the DIY at Stone & Wood Bobby Conn, Roy Parsons, Rhys Mcilwaine and Molly O’Neil are the key members of Drover, a folk-rock band...

Mullum takes A grade, Byron takes B, Suffolk takes a sausage

The Northern Rivers NET League Finals went down on Saturday, and it delivered some genuinely good tennis, nervous moments, an old school BBQ, and...