Last Thursday, in the days before the Winter Solstice, and after weeks of on and off rain that had more than a few parents nervously eyeing weather apps, Cape Byron Steiner School's annual Winter Festival went ahead.

The Gimelli family ran a small Italian restaurant on Jonson Street from about 1995 into the early 2000s. It was a classy joint, ahead of Byron’s culinary curve, serving dishes from every corner of Italy.

During the Gyuto Monks’ stay they will conduct daily programs from 10.30am to 4.30pm which include meditation, multiphonic chanting, Buddhist talks, tantric art classes, and empowerment ceremonies, all included in the general admission price to Crystal Castle precinct.

The NSW government say it has increased surveillance and boosted biosecurity capacity for H5 bird flu by 'dedicating additional resources to identifying potential cases coupled with an awareness campaign focused on input from the community and the needs of industry'.

There's been a happy ending to the saga of Jeff Sutton's yacht Wyuna 1, which has been beached near Elements at North Belongil since early May, after being damaged in heavy weather.