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June 6, 2026

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Cartoon of the week – 3 June, 2026

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.

Other News

ISIS vs Australian Israelis

Dear Rod Murray (Letters, 27 May) In reply to your very long letter, far exceeding 250 words, (in itself...

Mullum Giants celebrate Old Boys Day

Sunday, 31 May saw everyone having some fun as the sun finally shone at the Mullumbimby Giants games which included the Old Boys Day. Photos by Sarah Archibald.

Murwillumbah biz networking breakfast cancelled

Join the Murwillumbah business community for their June Business Murwillumbah Networking Breakfast, to be held at at Crystal Creek Estate.

Free disability workshops 3 and 4 June

On June 3 and 4, the Physical Disability Council of NSW (PDCN) is partnering with the locally based Disability Advocacy NSW (DA) to deliver two days of free, engaging events in the Northern Rivers. 

Byron Spaces Gallery hosts Ocean Magic exhibition

Ocean Magic, a new winter exhibition by local artist Yvonne Fenech, will open at Byron Spaces Gallery on Friday 5 June.

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Saying Goodbye to a Very Handsome Man

Last week an old friend of mine died. His name was Gary Cook. We met here in Byron Bay, when I was 23. He would have been in his early 30s. He was handsome. And funny. And weird. And self-involved. He used to come to Ringos, where I worked as a waitress. He’d sing to himself, bludge cigarettes, and shine up the serviette holder. He loved looking at himself. He’d laugh and say, ‘God, I’m a handsome man,’ and then he’d laugh this really infectious laugh

November 3, 2021

Byron Shire Echo issue 36.21 – November 3, 2021

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Local News | Comment | Letters | Articles | Enrolments | Good Taste | The Good Life | Stars | Seven Entertainment | Gig Guide | Soapbox | Cinema | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Service Directory | Crossword | Classifieds | Community at Work | Backlash

In this Issue:

Hot air and methane

One hundred nations have committed at the Glasgow Climate Conference (COP26) to cut methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. But Australia, together with China, Russia and Iran, have refused. Why are we refusing to cooperate? And what...

Facts about coal

Alejandro Aleman and Marcus O’Mullane wrote about coal. I certainly share their concern about greenhouse gases and about Australia’s failure to do much about the issue. However, they say ‘Australia is the country with the highest per capita emissions on...

The Australian Way

Is anyone else embarrassed by The Plan to Deliver Net Zero? Especially when it’s got the crass and totally inappropriate marketing slogan ‘The Australian Way’ slapped on the cover? Is it ‘The Australian Way’ to take credit for other people’s...

Unrestrained dogs

I am 77 years old and I have a registered Assistance dog. Twice, in two weeks, I have had to rescue my dog from being carried away and drowning in the Richmond River off the ONLY ‘unrestrained’ dog beach...

To John Anderson

Interesting advertisement from John Anderson (3 November). Many thought I’d be upset reading it, but no. I’m just surprised that John believes I am that gullible when it comes to the political game.  I’m also more than surprised that he...

Feasibility of trains

Thanks for Lydia Kindred’s article (3 November) dispelling myths about the Northern Rivers train service.  The anti-train lobby, usually state government apologists, often argue that the Casino to Murwillumbah train line was unprofitable. Of course in the years immediately before...

Tit-for-tat 

We humans spend time wiping out the creatures that we don’t like from all over the planet and now something has turned on us and is wiping a lot of us out. Tit-for-tat it seems to me.  I’ve had two...

Vote for Clive Palmer

I have been shocked to hear that some locals may vote for Clive Palmer, the mining billionaire who intends to buy the next election through spending mega millions on advertising, and spin on policy.  Think twice – we may have...

Chamber crowdfunds Mullum defibrillators

The Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce is looking to install up to ten defibrillators in and around the town, and they are seeking community and business support for the project.

Assange persecution

The persecution of Julian Assange is a concerted effort to punish him for his role in exposing the corruption and criminality of state actors, in particular the US government and its ruling elite. We now know the FBI used...

Editorial: A PowerPointless presentation

After all the sound and fury from the Nationals, the Prime Minister announced that his government would move to net zero emissions in 2050 by printing glossy pamphlets and making PowerPoint presentations.

Governments condemn citizens to suffering for specialist interests

Part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has once again leaked a document showing more than 10,000 requests from governments, scientists, meat and fossil fuel lobbyists to modify the final draft of the Report, which will be sent to the UN for modification (censorship), approval and final publication.

Squid Games – horses

If you’re unfamiliar with the Netflix program Squid Game, it’s a series where contestants play children’s games and risk death during the competitions.  The Spring Racing Carnival is Squid Game for horses; each new race is a lethal contest. In...

Coastal erosion

Byron Shire Council politics keeps moving slowly, mysteriously and pandemically towards the 4 December election, a bit like the current ‘sand slug’ at Main Beach Byron slowly moving northwards putting sand back on the beach. Nature always embodies and...

Max Stahl

Filmmaker Max Stahl died in Sydney a few days ago. It was due to his extreme bravery that film of the Santa Cruz cemetery massacre and many others came to world attention. Northern Rivers’ locals, Russell Anderson and Saskia...

Parking changes looming for Byron Shire

Byron Council will explore the possibility of increasing parking meter charges and introducing pay parking into Brunswick Heads, Mullumbimby and Bangalow, as a way of potentially obtaining more revenue from visitors to the Shire.

BayFM finalist for excellence in journalism

BayFM’s Community Newsroom is a finalist for Excellence in Journalism, an award to be announced by the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia National Awards in March 2022.

Sewage keeps coming

Thank you to the Byron Shire elected Council for not endorsing Water & Recycling’s (W&R) recommendation for an irresponsible large expenditure for the transfer of sewage from Oceans Shores STP (OSSTP) to Brunswick Valley STP (BVSTP). Councillor Ndiaye, a...

Vaccination in pregnancy, before and beyond

Since the hippies first arrived in the late ’60s, one persisting cultural aspiration around here has been ‘to live as naturally as possible’. This aim can take extreme forms.

Coastal ‘not a’ Walk

According to Discover Ballina, the Coastal Walk users are to expect a peaceful bush track and a splendid coastline experience. The reality is a walker is safer on the nearby shared path because there at least are some accepted cyclists...

Climate change

I have just finished reading Alexander von Humboldt’s biography. A celebrated German scientist known worldwide through his voluminous publications, he inspired Darwin’s travels and his Origin of the Species ,as well as the work of numerous significant naturalists and...

Old Mullum Hospital site toluene

If Council really wants to protect us from toluene vapours, they should insist that petrol stations capture petrol fumes. Petrol is about five per cent toluene, used as an octane booster. Filling a tank, or driving in traffic, exposes...

Close Seven Mile Beach

It is time to close the beach to motor vehicles. Their presence is incompatible with their social and environmental impact. Pedestrians and dogs are manageable. Vehicles represent a very real threat to people and wildlife. If you want to...

Dam, dam, dam

If councillors in favour of the Dunoon Dam (DuD) are elected in December we will see several things happen. Water resilience will collapse. The ‘10,000 signatures’, on which the pro-dam candidates base their political stance, demanded that all options be...

Byron bio birds

Thanks to The Echo for your continued interest in Council’s proposed bioenergy facility. Council are currently finalising the development application (DA) before it goes to the Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP), the forum where regionally significant developments are determined....

Marooned yacht on rocks near Ballina

A local photographer has shot a marooned yacht at Flat Rock, in Ballina Shire. It's the second boat to be washed ashore in recent months

Echo celebrates 40 with awards night tomorrow

Tickets are selling fast! Come join a fun-filled night of community celebration – This Saturday (tomorrow) The Echo is set to mark its 40th year in style with a ’30s swing-era style party and community awards night featuring the dynamic sounds of the Melbourne Ska Orchestra.

Author Tristan Bancks follows up with Two Wolves sequel

Local author Tristan Bancks launched his new book for readers 10+, Raised By Wolves, at Byron Book Room last night (Thursday 4 June).

Lismore City Council recognised for environmental leadership at LG awards

Lismore City Council has been recognised for outstanding achievement in environmental leadership, resilience and community infrastructure at the 2026 LG Professionals NSW Local Government Excellence Awards.