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Byron Shire
June 26, 2026

Norm weaves his magic

Latest News

Planets and weather align for Cape Byron Steiner Winter Solstice success

Last Thursday, in the days before the Winter Solstice, and after weeks of on and off rain that had more than a few parents nervously eyeing weather apps, Cape Byron Steiner School's annual Winter Festival went ahead.

Other News

Local farming legend retires after 23 years

Thursday, 25 June marks the end of an era for local farmer Kenrick Riley who is retiring from Byron...

Pauline at the Press Club, and on Planet Gina

Last week Australia had a glimpse of what life might be like under Prime Minister Pauline Hanson, via two speeches, one in Canberra and one in Townsville.

No Small Thing: NRCF Women’s Giving Circle event, Murwillumbah

Cheek Media founder, Hannah Ferguson, will headline a panel of prominent women leaders at the Regent Theatre in Murwillumbah next Thursday, in an event the organisers say brings, 'the kind of line-up you'd usually travel to Sydney for' to the Northern Rivers.

E-bikes destroyed by police in Tweed

Thirty-five e-bikes that were seized during police operations near Tweed Heads have been destroyed, say police.

Appeal to locate missing woman

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman missing from the Kempsey area.

Highwayman’s Winter Whisky Feast

Highwayman’s Dan Woolley has been working with whisky for over 20 years, and started to fill his own barrels...

Piano tuner and composer, Norman Appel, with Magenta Appel-Pye, Sam, Mila, Mable Leana, Bella and Luke.
Photo Jeff ‘Ebony and Ivory, But Mostly Synthetic’ Dawson.

For the last nine months, the Soundshell amphitheatre, located at The Terrace in Brunswick Heads, has housed a community piano.

While it has been enjoyed by locals and visitors alike, it was recently damaged by vandals. Last Friday, it was kindly repaired by local piano tuner and composer, Norman Appel. 

Norman’s services on a voluntary basis

Resident Laura Upsall told The Echo, ‘Norman has provided his services on a completely voluntary basis, and the community is most grateful. He has also recently dropped a new album, The Tallowwood Sessions: normanappel.bandcamp.com.

To help with the cost of these extensive repairs, unsolicited financial assistance has been most kindly donated by Lauren Archer, head veterinarian at North Coast Veterinary Services, and the Footbridge Cafe’.



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Kyogle bridge build completed in under three months

Kyogle mayor Danielle Mulholland says a new bridge on Gradys Creek Road, off Summerland Way and north of Kyogle, has opened to traffic. She says it took Council less than three months to build Methvens Bridge.

57 Station St, Mullumbimby amended DA on public exhibition

The development application (DA 10.2025.212.1) for the carpark at 57 Station Street, Mullumbimby is now back on exhibition for eight weeks from 22 June.

A Byron kickback with the Gimelli family

The Gimelli family ran a small Italian restaurant on Jonson Street from about 1995 into the early 2000s. It was a classy joint, ahead of Byron’s culinary curve, serving dishes from every corner of Italy.

12 winners at Byron Bay Herb Nursery

The Byron Bay Herb Nursery continues to create constructive pathways to achievement with 12 students from Byron Bay Herb Nursery’s disability support program recently graduating with a Certificate II in Horticulture.