The Echo asked all the Lismore Councillor candidates to send in a bio.
Led by current Councillor Elly Bird, who is running for Mayor – the Our Sustainable Future team is Group E.
Elly Bird
For the last five years on Council Elly Bird has shown her dedication to our community, particularly in her efforts in leading the community recovery from the 2017 floods as the manager of ‘Lismore Helping Hands’. Since then Elly has been a strong advocate for community resilience and regularly presents at conferences to speak about our recovery experience in Lismore.
Elly is deeply committed to sustainability; social justice; protecting the environment; and good governance. She has led Council’s focus on climate resilience; consistently worked towards financial sustainability; and consistently supported and advocated for small business and sustainable development.
Prior to being elected to Council, Elly was a key leader in protecting our region from industrial gasfields, working for five years on the campaign to make the Northern Rivers Gasfield Free including organising two of the biggest rallies ever seen in the Northern Rivers.
With strong communication and relationship skills, Elly has consistently taken leadership roles throughout her professional, and community life. Elly is well respected with strong networks throughout Lismore and its villages, which she first developed during the fifteen years she spent working for Lismore’s signature event, the internationally renowned Lismore Lantern Parade.
Elly is enthusiastic, determined, and focussed on delivering positive outcomes for our community as the next Mayor of Lismore. She is committed to working together with the new Council and with our whole community to build a sustainable future we can be proud of.
Gwen Trimble
With a background in administration and financial markets, Gwen moved to Nimbin from Sydney in 1991. Her first job in the area was on the fledgling free local newspaper The Lismore Echo which exposed her to the concerns of the Lismore community.
After leaving The Lismore Echo she worked for local clothing manufacturer Sunbuster Sportswear for many years.
For the last 15 years or so Nimbin residents know her from her work at the local NRMA office and Nimbin Motors and as a Marriage Celebrant. She currently manages the accounts for Nimbin Emporium and is the Treasurer of the Nimbin Health and Welfare Committee.
Gwen has been actively involved in numerous community causes over the years. She is a member of Lismore Council’s Nimbin Advisory Group; has actively campaigned against coal seam gas mining; supports the Widjabul-Wiabul opposition to the Dunoon Dam; and drove the campaign for Nimbin’s rural water consumers to retain their town water supply.
Now semi-retired, she lives with her partner of 30 years in their off grid, eco-friendly rural home.
Carlos Vieira-Silva
Carlos attained accounting and IT degrees at SCU and has worked as an accountant in various businesses around the LGA for over 27 years.
For the past four years he has managed a busy convenience store in Lismore’s CBD with his partner. Carlos is committed to promoting Lismore City as a vibrant regional centre, while being highly conscious of sustaining our beautiful environment.
Carlos was also a key campaigner in the successful Gasfield Free Northern Rivers community campaign.
Deborah Ray
Deborah is a long term resident, CBD business owner and a well known DJ.
She is an enthusiastic supporter of all things Lismore and is passionate about our environment, our community and our local economy.
She wholeheartedly supports progressive and innovative solutions to society’s challenges both locally and globally.
Jyllie Jackson
Jyllie has lived locally for 47 years and in that time has worked in many community organisations and government departments across health, environment, education, employment, business and the arts.
She is best known as the director of the iconic Lismore Lantern Parade and is deeply committed to building a caring community.
Simon Clough
Simon was the previous OSF Councillor on Lismore City Council for 8 years, was Deputy Mayor, Chair of the Floodplain Mangement Committee and Rous County Councillor.
Simon was also the National Chair of Lock the Gate. Simon has spent nearly 50 years deeply involved in a wide range of community activities.
He is passionate about sustainability and protecting the community from the impacts of climate change.
Recent stories, information and updates regarding the Lismore Elections
Nominations are now open for community members to put forward deserving individuals for recognition for the proposed Walk of Honour which will form part of the future Lismore Boulevard – Shared User Path project. Community sporting organisations in the Lismore Electorate can now apply for grants of up to $3,000 to purchase potentially life-saving defibrillators through the 2026 Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program. Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a young woman missing from the Lismore area. With temporary housing villages (pods) closing at the end of this year, community group House You has called on the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) for assurances that those living in them will not become homeless. The Lismore Recycling & Recovery Centre (LRRC) will soon benefit from improved and safer access, smoother traffic flow and enhanced facilities, says Lismore City Council. NSW Police say that two women have been charged following an alleged armed robbery recently in the area. Ballina, Lismore, Kyogle and Richmond Valley shires are set to benefit from seven weed biosecurity projects, which the NSW government says will support the protection of native vegetation and the enhancement of wildlife habitats at key environmental sites. 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. Lismore’s signature food, arts and culture festival, Norco Eat the Street, is making its highly anticipated return to the CBD on Saturday, 22 August 2026.
Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin is encouraging local councils and rugby union clubs to take advantage of an opportunity to upgrade their facilities, player pathways and increase local participation.
Walking the Lismore walk
Defibrillator grants for Lismore electorate
Appeal to locate woman missing from Lismore
Pod villages to close by end of the year – what’s...
Lismore tip upgrades begin next month
Women charged after alleged armed robbery in Lismore
Invasive weed projects tackles 125 ha of Crown land
NSW Women of the Year nominations closing soon
Lismore’s Norco Eat the Street returns Aug 22
Local union players to benefit from Legacy grants
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. 
