The Echo

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Articles & Columns

From refugee to community contributor – a personal story

Walaa Allaham - July 13, 20260

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.

Local News

Ballina courthouse windows smashed, man charged

The Echo - July 10, 20260

Police say a man will face court today, charged after 12 windows were allegedly smashed in Ballina last night. Police say, 'About 10.35pm (Thursday 9 July 2026), police were called to Martin Street following reports of a man smashing windows'.

Local News

Alleged native tree removal continues in Lennox, says councillor

The Echo - July 10, 20260

With a government agency now investigating the alleged clear felling of natives on a large private block in Lennox Head, Ballina Greens councillor Kiri Dicker has told The Echo that contractors were felling trees all morning, ‘trying to get the job done’.

Local News

Ballina king tide alert for 13–16 July

The Echo - July 10, 20260

Ballina Shire Council is encouraging motorists to drive safely over the coming days with king tides leading to minor flooding of some local roads.

Being Vegan

Mammalian meat allergy and my heart valve replacement

Ronald Priestley - July 10, 20260

Increasingly, people living in bush areas of the Shire are becoming aware of Mammalian Meat Allergy (MMA). Also known as alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), the disease is caused when a tick bites you and transfers a sugar called alpha-gal into your bloodstream.

Local News

Where to from here for a healthy future?

The Echo - July 10, 20260

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.

Local News

Clarence, Richmond, Kyogle get essential worker boost

The Echo - July 10, 20260

A program called The Welcome Experience, which aims to ensure essential workers who move to the Northern Rivers establish meaningful connections and navigate their new communities has been boosted with a new 'Local Connector' position.

Planet Watch

Protecting the marathon globetrotters, the terns

Byron Bird Buddies - July 10, 20260

Sunlight sparkles on the sea, where lazy swells gather momentum to form perfect waves before playing out onto the deserted shore.

Local News

Sign up for Mullum’s Chinny Charge race

The Echo - July 10, 20260

Ready to race up the mountain? That’s right, the Chinny Charge is open for registration for runners and walkers who want to take the once a year chance to race and stroll up the mountain.

Local News

$30,419 for Byron’s Fletcher Street Cottage

The Echo - July 10, 20260

The Festival of Stone sold out in June with over 2,000 people enjoying good music, great food, and the festival’s namesake Stone Brew Beer.

Local News

Music comes to Mullum this weekend!

The Echo - July 10, 20260

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.

Letters

Byron floodplain

Jo Faith, Newtown - July 10, 20260

The current hardships facing Byron communities seem to reflect global power relations. Trump’s vision for humanity is ‘might is right’ – a doctrine seemingly adopted...

Byron Echo

Energy savings

Anne Stuart, Zero Emissions Byron - July 10, 20260

Two exciting developments will lower household electricity bills, strengthen the local grid, and help power-up our renewable energy. First, from 1 July 2026, households...

Byron Echo

Forcing a reminder

Robert Podhajsky, Ocean Shores - July 10, 20260

Forces are constantly at play and work determinedly to give people the life we have. The minds of women and men interpret these forces because...

Local News

Screen industry leaders to converge in Lennox Head

The Echo - July 9, 20260

Film-maker advocacy group, Screenworks, has revealed the first speaker line-up for Regional to Global Screen Forum 2026, which will be held in Lennox Head on Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 September.

Local News

Alleged Lennox Head native tree removal sparks calls for action

The Echo - July 9, 20260

A Ballina Greens councillor is calling on the government agencies to act immediately over claims that native clearing is occurring on a private property in Lennox Head.

Local News

Free shop to move on from Billinudgel

The Echo - July 9, 20260

The Billinudgel Railway Station building, managed by Byron Shire Council (BSC) on behalf of Transport for NSW (TfNSW), has been used as a free community shop where people can donate unwanted items which are available for others to take since 2022.

Local News

Byron Bay High are Mock Trial champions

The Echo - July 9, 20260

Byron Bay High School’s Mock Trial team achieved a rare trifecta as their debut as a formidable legal team in the Southern Cross University (SCU) Mock Trial competition.

Local News

Inaugural DINGO Music & Arts Festival to light up Bangalow in October

The Echo - July 9, 20260

It is a fusion of local and international art, music, performance, food, and thought that will be coming to you in Bagalow as part of the inaugural DINGO Music & Arts Festival across four days from 8 to 11 October.

Byron Echo

Where do I start. Where does it end?

Professor David Heilpern - July 9, 20260

There is so much happening in the always enthralling intersection of law and politics that it is hard to know where to start. I will stop my head spinning and focus on just five.

Byron Echo

Amani’s bite of the Big Apple

Sapphire Rochelle, Myocum - July 9, 20260

Although I was grateful that The Echo wrote an article about my daughter Amani Wiriyanjara being accepted into the prestigeous New York Joffrey Ballet...

Articles & Columns

From refugee to community contributor – a personal story

Walaa Allaham - July 13, 20260

Local News

Ballina courthouse windows smashed, man charged

The Echo - July 10, 20260

Local News

Alleged native tree removal continues in Lennox, says councillor

The Echo - July 10, 20260

Local News

Ballina king tide alert for 13–16 July

The Echo - July 10, 20260

Ballina Shire Council is encouraging motorists to drive safely over the coming days with king tides leading to minor flooding of some local roads.

Being Vegan

Mammalian meat allergy and my heart valve replacement

Ronald Priestley - July 10, 20260

Local News

Where to from here for a healthy future?

The Echo - July 10, 20260

Local News

Clarence, Richmond, Kyogle get essential worker boost

The Echo - July 10, 20260

Planet Watch

Protecting the marathon globetrotters, the terns

Byron Bird Buddies - July 10, 20260

Sunlight sparkles on the sea, where lazy swells gather momentum to form perfect waves before playing out onto the deserted shore.

Local News

Sign up for Mullum’s Chinny Charge race

The Echo - July 10, 20260

Ready to race up the mountain? That’s right, the Chinny Charge is open for registration for runners and walkers who want to take the once a year chance to race and stroll up the mountain.

Local News

$30,419 for Byron’s Fletcher Street Cottage

The Echo - July 10, 20260

The Festival of Stone sold out in June with over 2,000 people enjoying good music, great food, and the festival’s namesake Stone Brew Beer.

Local News

Music comes to Mullum this weekend!

The Echo - July 10, 20260

Letters

Byron floodplain

Jo Faith, Newtown - July 10, 20260

The current hardships facing Byron communities seem to reflect global power relations. Trump’s vision for humanity is ‘might is right’ – a doctrine seemingly adopted...

Byron Echo

Energy savings

Anne Stuart, Zero Emissions Byron - July 10, 20260

Two exciting developments will lower household electricity bills, strengthen the local grid, and help power-up our renewable energy. First, from 1 July 2026, households...

Byron Echo

Forcing a reminder

Robert Podhajsky, Ocean Shores - July 10, 20260

Forces are constantly at play and work determinedly to give people the life we have. The minds of women and men interpret these forces because...

Local News

Screen industry leaders to converge in Lennox Head

The Echo - July 9, 20260

Film-maker advocacy group, Screenworks, has revealed the first speaker line-up for Regional to Global Screen Forum 2026, which will be held in Lennox Head on Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 September.

Local News

Alleged Lennox Head native tree removal sparks calls for action

The Echo - July 9, 20260

A Ballina Greens councillor is calling on the government agencies to act immediately over claims that native clearing is occurring on a private property in Lennox Head.

Local News

Free shop to move on from Billinudgel

The Echo - July 9, 20260

Local News

Byron Bay High are Mock Trial champions

The Echo - July 9, 20260

Byron Bay High School’s Mock Trial team achieved a rare trifecta as their debut as a formidable legal team in the Southern Cross University (SCU) Mock Trial competition.

Local News

Inaugural DINGO Music & Arts Festival to light up Bangalow in October

The Echo - July 9, 20260

Byron Echo

Where do I start. Where does it end?

Professor David Heilpern - July 9, 20260

There is so much happening in the always enthralling intersection of law and politics that it is hard to know where to start. I will stop my head spinning and focus on just five.

Byron Echo

Amani’s bite of the Big Apple

Sapphire Rochelle, Myocum - July 9, 20260

Although I was grateful that The Echo wrote an article about my daughter Amani Wiriyanjara being accepted into the prestigeous New York Joffrey Ballet...

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Articles & Columns

From refugee to community contributor – a personal story

Walaa Allaham - July 13, 2026 0

Local News

Oz Grom Open wraps up in Lennox

The Echo - July 13, 2026 0

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.

Local News

Jeff Dawson captures Mullum Roots Festival

Jeff Dawson - July 13, 2026 0

Did you make it to Mullum Roots Festival on the weekend?

Local News

Coorabell art show inspired by natural world

The Echo - July 13, 2026 0

'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.

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