When I first arrived in Australia from Syria, I carried many emotions with me. Like many refugees and newcomers, I was grateful to be safe, but I was also overwhelmed by the challenges of starting over in a completely new country.
Sometimes it is hard not to lose hope, with the depth and breadth of the challenges that have faced the Northern Rivers. From the droughts, fires, Covid, and the 2022 floods it’s sometimes hard to see a way forward.
Across Australia, Telstra mobile and mobile data customers have been dealing with widespread outages this morning, from cities to the regions, including the Northern Rivers.
The Byron Writers Festival will once again be treated to the delights of author and journalist Trent Dalton, who will be featured at the Jonson Street Stage on Saturday evening, 15 August, as well as throughout the event. Celebrating its 30th year, the Byron Writers Festival will, for the first time, be taking place around the town of Byron Bay from 14 to 16 August, with a mix of free and paid events.
Kyle Lionheart wears his heart on his sleeve at the Mullum Roots Festival last weekend. Photo Jeff Dawson
Did you make it to Mullum Roots Festival on the weekend?
One of the last music festivals still standing delivered a big program across multiple venues in Mullumbimby, with acts including Mental as Anything, Alex Lloyd, Busby Marou, Dave Graney and Bill Chambers, along with a number of emerging local performers.
Check out a great photo gallery from Jeff Dawson.
Dave Graney schmoozed the Mullum Roots Festival at the weekend.
‘Busking Pays, just’ accordioning to this street performer in Mullum at the weekend.
Kate Bush flash mob at Mullum Roots Festival. Photo Jeff Dawson
Bill Chambers at Mullum Roots Festival. Photo Jeff Dawson
Buskers holding court street side.
Wild Rocket getting down and dirty. Jeff Dawson
Bill Chambers at Mullum Roots Festival. Photo Jeff Dawson
Wild Rocket flying. Jeff Dawson
Young performer rocking Mullum Roots fest
Raconteur Kristina Olsen entrancing the audience at the Mullum Roots Fest.
Punters loving it at the Top Pub at the Mullum Roots Festival over the weekend. Jeff Dawson
Just washed it and I can’t do a thing with it.
Revellers revelling the Top Pub at the Mullum Roots Festival over the weekend
No one tells stories and writes songs quite like Kristina Olsen.
Dave Graney schmoozed the Mullum Roots Festival audience at the weekend.
Minnie Marks. Photo jeff Dawson
Kyle Lionheart wears his heart on his sleeve at the Mullum Roots Festival last weekend. Photo Jeff Dawson
Wanita Queen Of Honkytonk, raw and honest performance at the Mullum Roots Festival. Jeff Dawson
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.
The 2026 Soundboks Oz Grom Open saw a fairytale finish to competition yesterday with huge performances, bluebird skies and local wins in dreamy two-foot conditions.
'Elemental: Conversations with Nature' is the title of a forthcoming exhibition featuring eight established and midcareer artists working across painting, drawing, weaving, ceramics, and textiles. Inspired by the natural world, each artist explores the forms, patterns, materials, and forces found in nature.
Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin is calling on residents of the Lismore electorate to get their nominations in for the 2027 NSW Women of the Year Awards.
Wild Rocket blast into Mullum as Mullum Roots Festival lights up the town this coming weekend. Three venues around Mullum will host music, while songwriting workshops will happen at the Drill Hall Theatre on Sunday.
Who knows how many terrific ideas have wafted and dissolved after long literary lunches? This one didn’t – a shared idea took root, and after a lot of hard work the Northern Rivers Writers Centre, based in Lismore, was born and its first Byron Writers Festival took place in 1997.
Choose how you'd like to support local journalism.
$
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