13.8 C
Byron Shire
June 26, 2026

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: The Things People Say

Latest News

Byron’s Winter Whales raise $43,000

The Byron Bay Winter Whales (BBWW) took to the ocean for the 39th time this year on the first Sunday of May and raised $43,000 for local organisations and charities.

Other News

Greens say NSW budget ‘locks in pokies misery’

Cate Faehrmann MLC says the NSW government has knocked any hope of gambling reform on the head in yesterday’s state budget, with tax concessions to clubs with poker machines totalling $1.252 billion, while revenue from taxes on poker machine losses have been revised upward by a whopping $638.2 million over the forward estimates.

Lismore students pitch sustainability projects

Young people will take centre stage in Lismore this Friday when the HalveIt Festival brings student sustainability pitches to decision-makers in what organisers are calling 'part innovation expo, part community festival.'

Tweed Mayor advocates to restore funding at Local Government assembly

Tweed Shire Council say it has secured national support at the Australian Local Government Association’s National General Assembly, with four key motions carried.

Eleven winners at Byron Bay Herb Nursery

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

Science in the Pub, Lismore, 16 July

An engaging and informative Science in the Pub event is planned on Thursday, 16 July, from 5pm at Two Mates Brewing, South Lismore.

Mullum Scout Hall fire overnight

At 1.45am this morning the NSW Fire and Rescue Mullumbimby Station 388 Sans and Brunswick Station 240 were called to a fire at the Mullumbimby Scout Hall.

Newsflash: Those people kind of exist. The elite who control us. But they’re not behind some shadowy veil. They’re people like Musk and Zuckerberg and Bezos.

People have said some crazy shit about me, but the other day a friend told me a friend of his had advised him not to vote for me in the last election because I was in the Illuminati. How bizarre. I am a member of the Greens and the Bangalow CWA, but that’s the extent of my covert memberships. One wants to tax billionaires and end coal and gas. The other makes awesome cakes. Neither really seems poised for the secret society status of the Illuminati. Neither are on track to world domination. I wish they were. Imagine a future with housing and scones for all! Sweet!

I had to google Illuminati – which I guess is the first sign you’re not in the Illuminati. There was so much weird stuff it gave me a headache. I couldn’t read it all. To be honest, I didn’t understand it. Something about the 15th century and stonemasons and the New World Order. I’m familiar with New Order. They had a hit song called ‘Blue Monday’.

But as for overlords trying to control world affairs – it feels a bit far-fetched. Or, totally insane. I am a Mullumbimby mother of five. I don’t even know how I would fit the Illuminati meetings in. I’m pretty busy as it is. I can’t even make it to parent-teacher night.

So in a nutshell, without all the batshit crazy stuff, ‘The Illuminati is a conspiracy theory about a secret society that controls the world. Some believe they have infiltrated global economies, politics, technology, media, entertainment, and science.’ Hey, I’m flattered that someone out there considers me to be part of the global elite. But I still haven’t managed to get elected in a regional seat. I still put up my own posters for gigs. I’m not elite. I’m not controlling anything. I can’t even toilet train my dog. Let alone develop and implement a plan for a New World Order.

Newsflash: Those people kind of exist. The elite who control us. But they’re not behind some shadowy veil. They’re people like Musk and Zuckerberg and Bezos. They don’t need secret handshakes to exert their power. They use digital platforms and tech and misinformation and fear. It’s their logos that are the footprints they want us to follow to our future. They write the scripts. They are the hands pulling the strings, writing the code. It’s not the Illuminati. It’s worse. It’s free market capitalism. And we’re addicted.

As the cost-of-living crisis tightens its pincer grip on the world, with record homelessness and a rising sense of hopelessness, Musk is on track to become a trillionaire in the next decade. That’s obscene. In my opinion, that’s world domination. And it’s no secret. It’s happening in full view. I’m just a 57-year-old woman on an exercise bike at 5.30am every morning, the only thing I am trying to dominate is my BMI.

Apparently it started because I was giving an Illuminati hand sign in a photo. I think it was some sort of finger placement on my face. It made me nervous about touching my face in public. Or picking my nose in the car. And why would you want to give a hand sign? That seems like primitive tech. If you’re working with the Illuminati, wouldn’t they have a WhatsApp group? Secret hand signs are so 15th century.

I often wonder what it would be like if I really had the power to create this mythical New World Order. Well I’d definitely stop logging, and we’d stop coal and gas, and I’d stop this insane house hoarding, and this incessant need for wealth. And women wouldn’t need botox because they wouldn’t feel judged about their age and men would stop killing us, and we’d hug it out and the hugs would be consensual. And the world would be quieter, and kinder, and fairer and greener.

I often wonder why is that scary? Have we become so completely socialised by greed and violence and power, that we no longer trust peace or justice or love?

Oh, and apparently I’m also a Satan worshipper. FFS. I’m a feminist. I’m not worshipping any dude.


The Echo’s coverage of political issues will remain as comprehensive and fair as it has ever been, outside this opinion column which, as always, contains Mandy’s personal opinions only.



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.

When it comes to real estate, everyone can use an advocate

With 45 years combined experience across both sales and property management, husband and wife team Mark and Michelle Errichiello have recently moved to the Northern Rivers and teamed up with Byron Property Search to provide advocacy services for people looking to buy or sell across the region.

Savour The Tweed returns, 22 October

Food and drink event, Savour The Tweed, returns to excite tastebuds this spring, from Wednesday 22 October to Sunday 26 October.

Conservationists welcome carbon credit scheme to protect forests

Today’s release of the government’s proposed Improved Native Forest Method, which allows governments to claim carbon credits in return for stopping logging has been welcomed by the North East Forest Alliance and North Coast Environment Council as "providing a way to end native forest logging on public land".

Charge dismissed for activist hindering coal exports

An activist who came to national attention after being punched by a police officer while protesting, has had an anti-protest charge dismissed in court today.