16 C
Byron Shire
July 3, 2026

Mater but not ‘mom’

Latest News

Women to the front: the female voices shaping the 2026 Byron Writers Festival

The 2026 Byron Writers Festival program puts women front and centre. Journalists, novelists, and an award-winning columnist bring an extraordinary breadth of stories to Bundjalung Country this August.

Other News

Help raise funds for Our Kids with Tutu Day

Northern Rivers locals are once again being encouraged to swap business attire, school uniforms, team shirts and everyday clothes for something a little more colourful by wearing a tutu on Friday 31 July to help raise funds for Our Kids.

Disclosure Day

If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? From legendary three-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg, comes the gripping sci-fi thriller Disclosure Day.

NAIDOC Week and 19th Arakwal NAIDOC Week short film screening

Celebrating the history, culture, and achievements of First Nations Australians, NAIDOC Week runs from 5-12 July with the theme ‘50 Years of Deadly’.

Former Paralympian loses critical NDIS support

Public support is being sought to help wheelchair-bound former Paralympic athlete gold medalist Tracy Barrell with her living expenses after an alleged National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) decision reduced her ability to be fed and assisted.

Council backs $100,000 Easter coordinator despite budget concerns

Byron Shire Council has voted to spend $100,000 on coordinating Easter activities next year, despite unresolved questions about where the money will come from and growing concern over Council’s financial position.

Fresh ink: new releases making their festival debut

This year’s Byron Writers Festival is a first-look destination, with several of Australia’s most anticipated new books arriving at the festival before the ink has barely dried.

Appalled to see that ghastly Americanism ‘mom’ instead of the good old Anglo-Saxon ‘mum’ on page 14 of August 20 of The Echo. Have never heard of any modern child refer to their mother as mom in these here parts. So get off your yankee roller culture and call me mother. I will also answer to mumsy, mater or mummy.

Polly Guthrie, Ballina

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Osher’s next act: transforming recovery into a toolkit

Byron Writers Festival talks with best-selling author Osher Günsberg whose new book, So What? Now What? is a mental health toolkit and a compelling follow-up to his critically-acclaimed 2018 memoir, Back, After The Break.

BaySounds opens the door for songwriters

Some songs arrive quickly. Others sit half-finished in notebooks, voice memos or guitar cases for years before somebody finally hears them.

Bay FM’s Mia Armitage heads to Germany

Northern Rivers journalist Mia Armitage has been selected for a prestigious international internship with Germany’s public broadcaster, Deutsche Welle.

Biosecurity strategy up for comment

Feedback is now open on the draft NSW Biosecurity Strategy that the government says will provide the focus for improvements to the state’s biosecurity framework over the next 10 years.