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.
Byron Shire Council has moved a step closer to seeking a special rate rise, unanimously endorsing a community engagement program that will form a key part of any future application to increase rates above the state-imposed cap.
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.
Local filmmaker Darius Devas is bringing Floodland – winner of the Sustainable Futures Award at the Sydney Film Festival – to Mullumbimby, for one night only.
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.
Good sports – these Ballina police officers also thought crowned princess ‘Pom Pom’ was very cute. Photo Tree Faerie.
Blue with her pet human Zara, won the Doggy Dash to retain her title from last year. Good dog Blue! Photo Tree Faerie
This year’s Love Lennox Festival went off with a bang and a bark as the much anticipated Dogly Fun Show took over the main stage area for plenty of K9 fun.
The winning dash (and sit). Blue loves her human Zara AND the treats she has in her pocket. Photo Tree Faerie.
Hundreds of pooches and their people crowded around the Dogly arena to cheer on all the good dogs, with categories including the doggy dash, best costume, best paw shake, and, the very popular peanut-butter-challenge where everyone’s a winner, just to mention a few – there were plenty of prizes and or course, plenty of treats for all the good jobs!
Frankie and ‘Pom Pom’ had high hopes of winning the ‘Best Costume’ prize. Photo Tree Faerie.
Ballina Street was closed to traffic to accommodate easy access for K9s as well as the other events including live entertainment with the Sam Buckley Band, JB’s Blues Breakers, Lily-Grace Grant, The Mumblers and Pink Zinc.
The Car Show was very shiny and the Ross Park Stage focussed on youth and family entertainment, including Joel Salom and Erik the Robot Dog, Bunny Racket and DJ Cam.
Photos Tree Faerie
Pepper and her favourite person Nikky took a few minutes away from their stall to watch the pooch fun – at just 12-weeks-old, Pepper will have to wait until next year to win a prize. Photo Tree Faerie.
The doggy dash was a winner with pups. Photo Tree Faerie.
This doggo loves this human immensely. Photo Tree Faerie.
mmmmm nom nom – peanut nom nom butterrrrrr nom nom. Photo Tree Faerie.
Ziggy made his human Carly very proud when he came second in the peanut-butter-challenge and took home a doggy bag. Photo Tree Faerie.
Competing in the paw shake event, black lab ‘Yeti’ said he would do anything for the love of his life – Elena (and a treato). Photo Tree Faerie.
Fred putting his best foot forward to win the gold medal for the best paw shake. Photo Tree Faerie.
Fred asked his person Sue to drive him all the way from Evans Heads so he could win some treatos. Photo Tree Faerie.
Frankie and ‘Pom Pom’ had high hopes of winning the ‘Best Costume’ prize. Photo Tree Faerie.
Good sports – these Ballina police officers also thought crowned princess ‘Pom Pom’ was very cute. Photo Tree Faerie.
The winning dash (and sit). Blue loves her human Zara and the treats she has in her pocket. Photo Tree Faerie.
Blue with her pet human Zara, won the Doggy Dash to retain her title from last year. Good dog Blue! Photo Tree Faerie
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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.
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.
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.
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.
Byron Shire Greens Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye, has confirmed with The Echo that she is putting her hand up for Greens preselection for the state seat of Ballina, following Greens MP Tamara Smith announcing she would not be contesting the seat in the 2027 state election.
The Lennox Kinvara Action Group is calling for email submissions to Ballina Shire Council to stop the development of thousands of houses in a sensitive, flood-prone area, as the full scale of what's planned becomes better known.
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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. 
