National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

In 1996, the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation launched Australias first National Reconciliation Week and in 2000, the biggest demonstration of public support for a cause in Australia, the Bridge Walk for Reconciliation, raised the national consciousness.

Reconciliation Week starts tomorrow, May 27, and continues with activities across the country until Saturday, June 3. The event provides an opportunity for the people of Australia to come together and learn more about our shared histories, cultures and achievements.

Several activities will take place over the week including the Kinship Festival in Murwillumbah.

Further information can be found at: www.reconciliation.org.au.

 

The post National Reconciliation Week starts tomorrow appeared first on The Echo.

Saturdays annual Bell & Ford vintage clothes garage sale fundraiser for the SHIFT Project was an incredible success with $36,500 being raised at the Byron Surf Club this years effort was up about $7,500 on the last event.

SHIFTs Julie Wells said the room was full of happy hunters from the moment the doors opened.

So many to thank

Wells wanted to thank the hundreds of people who took part in this event, all of the donors who raided their robes and gave beautiful clothes, and the Byron Surf Life Saving club for such a spectacular venue. I also want to give a huge thanks to Linda Grace, Annette Campbell and Leslie Ford three amazing women who are the driving force behind this event.

Along with a BIG team of volunteers they spend...

The significant issue of a merger of several Murwillumbah schools has been ongoing since 2020 when the then State Government announced via Sarah Mitchell MP that four public schools would be amalgamated into a single Kindergarten to Year 12 campus at Murwillumbah High.

It was clear from the outset that this was not something that any of the school communities wanted, yet the government continued to foist it upon students, teachers and families in the Murwillumbah area, but the government was determined to push ahead saying there was plenty of support for the project.

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Multiple pods of whales have been spotted off the coast from Seal Rocks to Coffs Harbour in recent days as the northern migration humpback plods its way to warmer waters.

Boaters on the Macquarie, Coffs and Byron Coasts are being advised to not to get too close to the whales as they make their annual trip north to warmer waters.

Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell said boaters need to be aware of the marine mammals. As we are starting to see the whale migration along the NSW Coast, Marine Rescue is reminding boaters that there are rules and restrictions in place for the wellbeing of the animal but also the safety of boaters.

Keep your distance

Boaters are not to come within 100 metres of a whale or 300 metres of a whale and a calf.

If a whale does surface near your vessel it is important that you cut your motors and slow down to a safe speed.

Commissioner Barrell is also reminding skippers not to approach whales from behind or to wait in front of their path.

The Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner said no more than three vessels at a time should approach whales and skippers should wait their turn.

Theres plenty of time

There will be plenty of time to enjoy these magnificent creatures during the migration season.

As always if you are heading out on the water to view the whales please make sure that you Log On and Log Off with your local Marine Rescue base either via the Marine Rescue app or over VHF marine radio Channel 16, said Commissioner Barrell.

Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communitie...

Art Pharmacy in collaboration with Health Infrastructure NSW has commissioned 36 artworks by nine artists local to the Northern Rivers region for the Lismore Base Hospitals new art trail. 

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UPDATE: 26 May, 2023

A woman reported missing from Toormina has been located safe and well.

The 71-year-old woman was reported missing after she was last seen at a residence on Bryant Close, Toormina, around 4.40pm yesterday.

When she failed to return home or make contact with family members, she was reported missing to officers from Coffs/Clarence Police District, who commenced inquiries into her whereabouts

Following extensive inquiries, the woman was located safe and well this morning (Friday 26 May 2023) in Woolgoolga.

Police wish to thank the public and the media for their assistance.

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NSW Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman missing from Coffs Harbour.

The woman, aged 71, was last seen at a residence on Bryant Close, Toormina, around 4.40pm today Thursday 25 May.

When she failed to return home or make contact with family members, she was reported missing to officers from Coffs/Clarence Police District, who commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Police and family hold concerns for her welfare due to her living with dementia.

Yhe woman is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 170cm tall, medium build, brown eyes with grey hair.

She may be driving Red Mazda CX5 SUV with the NSW registration ******.

Anyone who may have seen Vicki or has information regarding her whereabouts is urged to contact Coffs/Clarence police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The post Appeal to locate woman missing from Coffs Harbour appeared first on The Echo.

 

The Ballina Shire Council has revealed receipt of $100,000 in land rent for its first temporary emergency housing village on the Northern Rivers.

Details of the lease between the state and local government for land at the Wollongbar Sports Fields had been kept secret from the public until this week.

When the lease was first presented to the Ballina Shire Council in April last year, council staff said its terms were to remain strictly confidential.

The government would be paying rent to the council on a monthly basis, staff said at the time, with the option to terminate with one months notice.

The clearing of the site on the banks of Cobaki Creek, by MAAS Group Holdings from Dubbo, to progress a 27-year old development approval has triggered Tweed Shire Councillors into action to seek legal advice on what, if anything, can be done to bring these legacy/zombie developments into line with current standards. 

Mayor Chris Cherry was clear to point out that the alternative  notice of motion (NoM) that she put forward was not about revoking development consents.

I am proposing that we can look at how best to ensure that these developments are not having big environmental impacts either on our community, or on our natural environment.

It is really important to understand that these developments are items that have been approved a long time ago and have come in under quite different regulations. If they havent been built yet there may be an opportunity to get better environmental outcomes. To have these developments to come more into line with the known risks and impacts that we have found out about in the last thirty years of development assessment.

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How we manage our coastal areas have long term impacts both on our natural and built environments. Ballina Shire Council (BSC) are currently seeking community feedback on the future management of Shaws Bay in East Ballina an important environmental and recreational area. 

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A new proposed flat minimum rate across the Byron Shire aimed at easing pressure in the housing market would put 238 residential properties in higher rates brackets.

Council staff have revealed the modelling in response to a Greens-led motion with backing from Labor Councillor Asren Pugh for this weeks ordinary meeting.

Cr Duncan Dey and Pughs proposed flat minimum rate of $1,000 comes as council staff continue to receive feedback from the public on a proposed minimum of $1,014 via the councils Draft Operational Plan and Budget 2023 to 2024.

Councillors last month voted to put the draft plan and budget on public display for feedback for 28 days.

Cr Pugh was absent from the vote and has since seconded a motion from Cr Dey for this weeks meeting, to be held live in Mullumbimbys chambers, streamed online and recorded for public access later.

The councillors have suggested the new minimum flat rate of $1,000 be considered after a review of public submissions for application across the shire in time for the upcoming financial year.

To peg or not to peg: minimum rate arbitary

Crs Dey and Pugh also want the flat rate considered for budgets beyond the next, with Cr Dey confirming via email late last week he would slightly change the wording of the motion published online to better emphasise the consideration aspect.

The proposed flat rate is $31, or 4%, more than last years minimum rate of $969.

Its also $14, or...

About 11.30am (Wednesday, 24 May), emergency services were called to the M1 at Chinderah, following reports a man had been struck by a truck.

Despite the efforts of NSW Ambulance paramedics, the man died on the way to hospital. He is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be aged in his 50s.

The male driver of the truck stopped to assist the man and has since been taken to Tweed Heads Hospital for mandatory testing.

Police from Tweed-Byron Police District attended the scene and have commenced and investigation into circumstances surrounding the incident.

As inquiries continue, anyone with information or dashcam footage of the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The post Man hit by truck in Tweed dies appeared first on The Echo.

Cost of living relief, investment towards net-zero and economic responsibility is how local federal Labor MP, Justine Elliot, has framed her partys first budget this term.

I know for our region thats vitally important, Elliot told BayFMs Community Newsroom last week.

The member for Richmond also took the opportunity to express outrage at the Greens refusal to support Labors Housing Australia Future Fund Bill 2023.

According to The Guardian, the Greens say they will not support it, unless the government offers substantial improvements, including $5B of direct spending on housing and a national rent freeze.

And overshadowing Labors budget was their commitment to implement the previous governments stage three tax cuts, which will give those earning over $200,000 per year a $9,000 windfall. 

Some of the nations top economists told The SMH (Nine) in 2022, the tax cuts were unaffordable and would drive inflation.

So, whats in the Labor governments federal budget for the people of the Richmond electorate?

A big component of Labors budget aims is strengthening Medicare through a whole range of initiatives, Elliot said, before describing the tripling of bulk-billing incentives as the...

With bright yellow petals, the Byron Orchid is only as big as the tip of your small fingernail, longtime local, Veda Turner, says. 

Its said to have been spotted in the Arakwal National Park, and surrounding areas, along Byrons coastline, between the lighthouse and Suffolk Park.

Mr Turner has seen it, once, he told The Echo.

I know a spot where it was, but Ive never seen it there subsequently, he says, I think theyve been successful in collecting seed, down in Sydney, they were able to actually propagate the Byron Bay Diuris...