15.3 C
Byron Shire
June 6, 2026

The Whispering Sky

Latest News

Cartoon of the week – 3 June, 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.

Other News

Lismore City Council recognised for environmental leadership at LG awards

Lismore City Council has been recognised for outstanding achievement in environmental leadership, resilience and community infrastructure at the 2026 LG Professionals NSW Local Government Excellence Awards.

Animals on country roads safety campaign launches

Motorists are being urged to slow down and stay alert for wildlife as Transport for NSW launches its annual ‘Animals on Country Roads’ safety campaign.

Return Mullum hospital to Bundjalung

‘Public land should serve the public vision,’ Greens councillor Elia Hauge is quoted as saying in The Echo (May...

National minimum wage increases to $26.44p/h

With the Fair Work Commission’s decision to increase the national minimum wage by 4.75%, Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) is calling for further action to support people doing it tough, as well as the frontline community services helping them. “People are under severe pressure from interest rate rises, rent increases, higher fuel costs, and growing economic uncertainty due to the conflict in the Middle East,” said ACOSS Acting CEO Edwina MacDonald.

Financial woes

Byron Shire’s financial woes are not the result of a lack of money, but rather the waste of it....

Echo celebrates 40 with awards night tomorrow

Tickets are selling fast! Come join a fun-filled night of community celebration – This Saturday (tomorrow) The Echo is set to mark its 40th year in style with a ’30s swing-era style party and community awards night featuring the dynamic sounds of the Melbourne Ska Orchestra.

Tenzin Choegyal

Tenzin Choegyal and friends will perform live on Saturday as part of his Australian tour with a new album Whispering Sky that transcends cultures and borders, reflecting the beauty of friendship and our shared passion for music.

Son of a nomad, Tenzin continues to bring new sounds of Tibet while strongly holding the essence of ancient Tibetan wisdom. An outstanding composer/ performer with a great depth of musical knowledge, intuition and inventiveness, he attributes his art form to the early karmic imprints of hearing his mother and father as a toddler. For 25 years he has performed around the world, collaborating with Philip Glass, Patti Smith, Tenzin Kunsang and many local artists such as Yeshe, Michael Askill, Cye Wood. He recently performed in an Indian concert for H.H. The Dalai Lama.

This concert will feature Tenzin Kunsang and Nydian, traditional Tibetan theatre, and Yeshe who recently returned to performing and was described in the SMH as ‘Tom Waits meets Harry Manx’.

He will play with emerging Rosie Jenkins, who co-created music for the Julian Assange film. The Women’s Climate acapella group will open the evening.

Doors, dinner, momos, GF veg, cakes and chai from 6pm at St Johns Hall, Mullumbimby. Tickets: events.humanitix.com/whispering-sky-3f9qyxag. Information: [email protected].



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.

If you are a local business owner help us and in turn we help you. All The Echo asks for is advertising, not a free ride. It is every advert in The Echo and on www.echo.net.au, which creates the space for all the stories and coverage of community events, happenings and concerns.

If you are a reader you can become a sponsor of The Echo. Your support keeps the us independent.

Even a small one-off or regular donation from you will help keep the echo’s independent voice alive and strong.

Support Us

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

You’re supporting The Echo, thank you

Your contribution is keeping independent, local journalism alive in the Northern Rivers.

Because of supporters like you, we can keep every story free for everyone — no paywall, no exceptions. Your money goes directly to funding our newsroom of 40-odd local workers covering the stories that matter to this community.

Tell us what you think, give us your opinion

The Echo loves your letters and comments 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, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.

The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and telephone number.

Online comments are no longer available.

Marooned yacht on rocks near Ballina

A local photographer has shot a marooned yacht at Flat Rock, in Ballina Shire. It's the second boat to be washed ashore in recent months

Echo celebrates 40 with awards night tomorrow

Tickets are selling fast! Come join a fun-filled night of community celebration – This Saturday (tomorrow) The Echo is set to mark its 40th year in style with a ’30s swing-era style party and community awards night featuring the dynamic sounds of the Melbourne Ska Orchestra.

Author Tristan Bancks follows up with Two Wolves sequel

Local author Tristan Bancks launched his new book for readers 10+, Raised By Wolves, at Byron Book Room last night (Thursday 4 June).

Lismore City Council recognised for environmental leadership at LG awards

Lismore City Council has been recognised for outstanding achievement in environmental leadership, resilience and community infrastructure at the 2026 LG Professionals NSW Local Government Excellence Awards.