13.2 C
Byron Shire
August 29, 2026

Local winners of the 70th Regional Training Awards

Latest News

Greens urged to back pathway to end native forest logging

Some of NSW’s most respected and long-standing forest campaigners and scientists have today urged the Greens not to support the Nationals' attempt to disallow the Improved Native Forest Management (INFM) method.

Other News

NSW gambling reforms announced

The Minns government says it is delivering on a key election commitment with its latest tranche of gaming reforms, giving people and families stronger protections against gambling harm and tightening the rules concerning gambling promotion and marketing.

Robot armies

Nuclear war now seems a matter of not if, but when: the bulletin of atomic scientists now has us...

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Turn and Face the Change

‘Changes’ – It’s my favourite Bowie song. How do we change? And I don’t just mean personally. I mean as a large community of humans. As a species? Because we have to change. Now.

Climate science meets art at Lismore Gallery

Climate change conversations filled with graphs, reports and grim headlines can be enough to make even the hardiest soul want to hide under the doona. This Sunday, Lismore Regional Gallery is trying a different approach to discussing the issue.

Need a little free legal advice?

Lawyers from Tyndall & Co say they will provide free legal advice covering most areas of law including domestic violence, elder abuse and visa issues at their upcoming Pro Bono Cafe in Byron.

How to stop overdoses? Dr Will Tregoning has some thoughts

With International Overdose Awareness Day approaching on 31 August, NSW now has the evidence, the tools and record overdose deaths but lacks the will on permanent, community based pill testing.

Numoil Smith won the Vocational Student of the Year award at the NSW Regional Training Awards in Byron Bay on Friday, 20 June. Photo supplied

Contestants from Goonellabah, Murwillumbah, Kingscliff, and Tweed Heads were all winners in their categories for the 2025 North & Mid North Coast Regional Training Awards held in Byron Bay last Friday. 

Goonellabah local Numoil Smith took out the Vocational Student of the Year award for her work in the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, TAFE NSW, Goodstart Early Learning. Murwillumbah’s Neil O’Donnell who is a music teacher with the NSW Department of Education was the winner of the VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year, while Nicole Shedden, of Kingscliff was Trainee of the Year for her work in the Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance, TAFE NSW, Sensational Minds Therapy. Finally, Bodhi Perandis of Tweed Heads won the VET in Schools Student of the Year for the Certificate III in Sport Coaching, NSW Department of Education.

Ms Saffin said these high achievers in the vocational education and training (VET) sector will go on to represent the North and Mid North Coast regions in the 2025 NSW Training Awards in September.



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.

Ballina Council makes decision on Ross Lane

With the absence of all four of its progressive councillors for various reasons, Ballina Council pushed ahead with its agenda at yesterday's monthly meeting, including a decision which is likely to close Ross Lane for months while the road is upgraded.

Mullumbimby puts new governance models first, and now wants to build it

Imagine Northern Rivers says Mullumbimby is the only community across the region to rank new models of governance and decision-making as the number one element of its preferred future, and last week locals gathered to work out how to make it real.

Appeal to locate man missing from Broadwater

Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate a local missing man.

Katie Milne responds to Tweed’s draft housing and employment strategy

The former mayor of Tweed Shire Council, Kate Milne, has shared her submission to Tweed's Draft Growth Management Housing & Employment Strategy.