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Byron Shire
July 2, 2026

Struggling Byron businesses

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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

Award-winning writers coming to BWF

The Byron Writers Festival has announced a number of prize-winning authors who will be appearing among 150 international and Australian writers at this year's festival, representing a wide range of genres.

Councillor’s integrity

In last week’s Echo, there was a wonderful editorial, plus another article about the Station Street development for affordable...

No Small Thing – changing lives for the better, together

This Thursday, 2 July (tonight) the Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF) Women’s Giving Circle is bringing a stellar lineup of leaders to the Regent Theatre in Murwillumbah to discuss how progress happens across climate, gender equality, media, democracy, and community action – and why local action still matters.

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.

Youth court diversion initiative given a boost

Murwillumbah youth advocacy and training organisation, RiverTracks has secured $20,000 in one-off state government funding to run its Youth Court Support and Diversion Initiative as a pilot program over the next 12 months.

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.

I appreciate the difficulties facing Byron businesses regarding the drainage works, but with all due respect to those affected, dare I suggest that t-shirts would hardly be on top of the locals’ shopping list in these extremely challenging economic times.

Perhaps Byron Council could consider compensation, as it is evident that lessors are inflexible. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more.

Dennis ‘Boggo’ Petruszka, Sale, Vic

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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.