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Byron Shire
June 6, 2026

Latest News

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

World Environment Day celebrated in M’bah, 7 June

A free family-friendly community celebration for World Environment Day will be held on Sunday, 7 June, at the Murwillumbah Showgrounds from 10am till 3pm.

Drug driving reform introduced to NSW Parliament

Greens MP and drug harm reduction spokesperson Cate Faehrmann has welcomed news that reform to drug driving laws for medicinal cannabis patients will finally be introduced into NSW Parliament.

National minimum wage increases to $26.44p/h

With the Fair Work Commission’s decision to increase the national minimum wage by 4.75%, Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) is calling for further action to support people doing it tough, as well as the frontline community services helping them. “People are under severe pressure from interest rate rises, rent increases, higher fuel costs, and growing economic uncertainty due to the conflict in the Middle East,” said ACOSS Acting CEO Edwina MacDonald.

Eclectic Selection for the week beginning 3 June 2026

Eclectic Selection: What’s on this week is a taste of some of the events that can be found in the Byron Shire and beyond this coming week.

Greens from The Farm are flourshing

At the heart of a thriving market garden is timing, soil health, and a deep connection to the seasons...

Northern Rivers philanthropic org reveals 2025 achievements

Not-for-profit philanthropic organisation,  Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF), have released their annual report for 2025, revealing $2.4m was raised, and 121 projects funded across the region.

April 8, 2026

Byron Shire Echo issue 40.44 – April 8, 2026

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Local News | North Coast News | Comment | Letters | Soapbox | Crossword | Stars | Sport | Good Taste | The Good Life | Filter Off | School Holidays | The Scoop | Seven Entertainment | Gig Guide | Cinema | Classifieds | Community at Work | Service Directory | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Backlash

In this Issue:

Murbah Youth Fest is back!

The award-winning Murbah Youth Fest (named 2025 Community Event of the Year in the Tweed Shire) is back for its fourth year – bigger, busier, and with more young people involved than ever.

A Small SHIFT – I Will Survive event

Seven local women from different decades of life spanning from their 20s to their 80s, will be sharing a seven-minute story on something they have survived, and raising money for the SHIFT Project.

Cape Byron Steiner visits NSW parliament

Cape Byron Rudolf Steiner School HSC students recently visited NSW Parliament House in Sydney and met with their local Member for Ballina Tamara Smith.

Support John raising money for Byron’s youth

This Saturday, 11 April, ultra-endurance runner John Salton (65 years young) will undertake a 24-hour non-stop run around the Cape Byron Lighthouse loop, beginning at sunrise, to raise funds for the Byron Youth Services (BYS). John’s run is the official...

New play flips the lid on the teenage brain

Inside every adolescent brain, billions of neurons are firing and rewiring, shaping the intense and often overwhelming experience of being a teenager.

Anything Is

Behind the scenes, what is going on? there are quite a few build your own AI adverts, (is it Artificial Intelligence, or is it Anything Is?).  What is the message behind the selling, using or building your own AI?  The realms...

Iran war to end US?

The war on Iran represents a tipping point in the shifting balance of power on the world stage.  Superficially, this war is the culmination of a decades long effort by one man, the indicted war criminal and genocidal psychopath, Israeli...

Global shift

The end of cheap fossil fuel energy is here now, at least for the next few years.  The world is about to change: the balloon has burst. We built a world based on cheap fossil fuel energy, assuming we could...

America’s friend

‘It may be dangerous to be America’s enemy, but to be America’s friend is fatal’. This quip, attributed to Henry Kissinger (well-known American diplomat, bureaucrat and alleged war criminal) almost 60 years ago, came to mind as I read...

Fuel sovereignty

All fuel measures listed by Labor are completely useless if there is no fuel. Labor should tell us where and when we will get fuel. Unless we drill for oil and process it ourselves, Australia will loose its sovereignty.  James...

Bike trail at the cost of rail

We ask if a bike trail by itself is really the best thing for the Byron Shire? Surely, looking to a more sustainable future, we need to really assess what the people need, not just a nice occasional recreational...

Right of reply

In reply to John Donnelan (Echo letters, 1 April). My right of reply: Jo Faith ‘confirmed racist’. Universal questions? Can’t be much fun? Or is it? Jo Faith, Newtown

Disappearing lighthouse

Tongue in cheek! (Echo, 1 April). Surely it’s not to make room for a ‘you know who’ tower. That would fill your letters pages! Peter Walters, Ballina

We need to exit this abusive relationship

The whole world is experiencing what it’s like to be the victim of a coercive control relationship. Even here in Byron Bay our lives are being psychologically shaped, and materially impacted by the dementing malignant narcissist and his sadistic sidekick, with a pattern of abuse all too familiar, particularly to women. 

Teddy bear fun had by all

Nearly 200 people and just as many teddy bears descended on Mullumbimby Showground last Saturday for Spaghetti Circus’s Teddy Bears’ Picnic, a joyful celebration of circus, community and childhood that raised funds for the circus’s beloved preschool program.

Byron drainage work will resume this week

Major drainage upgrade works recommenced in Byron Bay on Tuesday after a short Easter break.

MullumMagic Toastmasters Club welcomes you!

Do you feel tongue-tied when speaking in public? Do you tend to ramble and have trouble getting to the point?

Local children’s book a breath of fresh air in troubled times

At a time of global conflict and division, a new children’s book by Mullumbimby artist and author Madeline Hill is encouraging young readers to rediscover the value of small acts of kindness – starting with a simple letter.

Public land for $75m Wategos mansion

A Byron Shire Council (BSC) request for public feedback on a proposed lease of public land, part of a road reserve, to the owner of 27 Marine Parade, Wategos, was frustrated by a lack of information supplied to the...

Asren Pugh puts hand up for NSW Senate

Former Byron Shire councillor Asren Pugh has confirmed with The Echo that he will be seeking support to run on the Labor Party ticket for the NSW Senate (upper house) in the 2027 state election.

Palantir and Coles

In February 2024, Coles signed a three-year contract with US defence and surveillance giant Palantir.  The company was co-founded by Peter Thiel – a man who wrote in 2009 that freedom and democracy are ‘no longer compatible’, partly blaming women’s...

No Trump fan

After visiting the USA in the 1920s, Oscar Wilde commented: ‘America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilisation in between.’   They certainly have a barbaric president. He is the most uncivilised human being imaginable...

What an Injustice 

How can it be that the ACT (Canberra) decriminalised the possession of up to 50g of cannabis and two plants per person (max four per household) in 2020, while everywhere else, the other 26 million Australians are criminials! Is...

Daylight savings time

Reading Jillian Spring’s letter of disgust (Echo, 1 April) with regard to the ridiculous practice of daylight savings time, I recalled the conversation I heard on Radio National earlier this week with a Canadian who informed listeners that some...

Crushed e-bikes

I totally disagree with the state NSW government to crush these beautifully made e-bikes taken from these children. For goodness sake, give them away or re-sell them. What a huge waste to crush them. Also Jillian Spring from Billinudgel – I...

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.