The Byron Wave

10/09/2025

The river has stories — and this spring, we’re gathering to hear, honour, and share them.

After the 2022 floods, locals formed Richmond Riverkeeper to restore the health of the Richmond River — making it drinkable, swimmable, and fishable again. At the same time, Revive Northern Rivers was launched to raise awareness of our ecosystems’ tipping point.

Now, Richmond Riverfest is back for its third year — running 28 Sept–26 Oct — with a month-long program of tree planting, paddling, storytelling, fishing, science events, and more across the catchment.

The launch on World Rivers Day (28 Sept) at Fawcett Park, Ballina, includes:
🗣️ River yarns from local storytellers
🎶 Music by NIDALA
🐟 Talks on fish kills & river restoration
🚤 Tinny adventures + more!

Because the more we connect with our rivers, the more we’re inspired to care for them 🌱💧

📍 Ballina, Nyangbul Bundjalung Country
📷 Photo & words by Tom Wolff ( )
🔗 Program coming soon at richmondriverfest.com

10/09/2025

🎶 Z-STAR TRINITY live in Mullumbimby 🎶

Mullumbimby welcomes London-born Trinidadian frontwoman Zee Gachette with her band Z-STAR Trinity to the Ex-Services Club on Sunday 14 September. An international powerhouse described by Rhythms Magazine as channelling Hendrix, Prince and Nina Simone, Zee is known for her magnetic stage presence, hypnotic vocals and genre-shifting sound that moves from heavy rock to psychedelic R&B and soul. 

 Joined by drummer Beck Flatt and bassist Vini Mel, Zee and the band will deliver a mind-blowing wall of sound that kicks off at full throttle and only climbs higher from there.

📍 Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club
📅 Sunday 14 September
⏰ Doors 5pm | Live music 6–9pm
🎟️ Tickets $35 | Group bookings available
👉 Book here: trybooking.com/DFDYQ
👉 FB event: link

Don’t miss this chance to see a world-class act right here in the Northern Rivers.

30/08/2025

As we step into September, we’re excited to bring you a fresh new edition of The Byron Wave.

Inside, you’ll find stories that celebrate our local creatives, events that connect us, and voices that continue to shape the spirit of Byron. We invite you to turn the page, embrace the season ahead, and join us in welcoming this vibrant new chapter together🗞️

How beautiful is this picture of Tallow Creek taken by

23/08/2025

Four years ago, Guido and Natalia Annoni swapped city life in Sydney for the Northern Rivers, taking over Jungle Juice at the Byron Farmers Market. Along with the stall, they leased a farm at Mooball, which included an established orchard of citrus and other fruit.

Today, most of the produce in their juices and smoothies comes directly from the farm, while the rest is sourced from fellow market farmers.

Guido says they grow dragonfruit and black sapote, alongside oranges, mandarins, lemons, limes, grapefruit, and lemonade fruit, describing the experience as “a learning curve and a lot of hard work, but we enjoy it – especially picking all the fruit and seeing how everything grows year after year.”

Popular menu items include the Energiser juice, made with beetroot, carrot, ginger, apple and celery, and the Dragonfruit smoothie with passionfruit, banana and strawberries.

Customers also favour the Black Mama smoothie, featuring black sapote, banana, coconut cream and cow or nut milk.

Read the full article in the Byron Wave🗞️

08/08/2025

‼️ Byron Writers Festival 2025 Weekend Events Cancelled Due to Weather ‼️

Organisers of the 2025 Byron Writers Festival regret to inform all ticket holders that the Festival will not proceed on Saturday 9 August and Sunday 10 August at Bangalow Showground as planned, due to the condition of the festival site, as well as ongoing rain predicted.

The decision has been made in close consultation with all Byron Writers Festival stakeholders and is based on the safety and wellbeing of patrons, authors, partners, suppliers and volunteers.

Festival Artistic Director Jessica Alice said: "This is a deeply regrettable but necessary decision. Though we had a wonderful but wet first day, now the safety of our community is our highest priority. The forecast conditions make it impossible to continue the event safely. We encourage patrons to come to the Book Room in Byron this weekend and collect the books of our fabulous authors.”

All ticket holders are asked to please bear with Byron Writers Festival as they manage the situation. They will be in touch as soon as possible with updates and outcomes.

Byron Writers Festival organisers are devastated and disappointed with the cancellation, and are sure everyone associated with the Festival will also feel the same. They thank their audience, writers, staff, and volunteers for their incredible patience on opening day and ask for patience and understanding in the wake of this decision. For more information visit Byron Writers Festival on Facebook and on Instagram.

08/08/2025

Australian rock legends the Hoodoo Gurus are set to headline a one-night-only benefit concert for Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital on Saturday 27 September, joined by Grammy-nominated singer Toni Childs, Brisbane indie favourites Screamfeeder, and high-energy groove band The Honey Sliders.

All proceeds will go directly to supporting the hospital’s lifesaving mobile wildlife work, which provides treatment and rehabilitation for sick, injured, and orphaned native animals across the region.

The event will be held at The Green Room, a 1,600-capacity venue within the 300-acre home of Bluesfest Byron Bay, and promises an evening of live music, community spirit, and a shared commitment to protecting wildlife.

📸:Dr Bree Talbot treating an injured echidna, The Hoodoo Gurus (source supplied)

Visit: for more info🐨

03/08/2025

02/08/2025

We’re excited to share the latest Byron Wave Edition—packed with festival news, local legends, and real community stories. From sustainability tips to heartfelt tributes, there’s something for everyone in this month’s read.

We'd like to thank Livia Marmonti for her stunning cover photo this month, taken at Cape Byron Marina Park. Her Instagram is: .marmonti

Pick up your copy and discover what continues to make the Byron Shire unique!🗞🗞

29/07/2025

Celebrating 20 years of tree planting in Lennox Head with over 200 volunteers and more than 1,000 native seedlings in the ground.

What started as a revegetation effort on cleared land in the 1870s, has grown into a thriving community tradition—bringing back Tuckeroo, Guioa, Coastal Banksia and even the swamp wallabies.

Huge thanks to everyone who’s helped make this happen over the years, especially our local schools, volunteers, and the Lennox Lions for keeping everyone well-fed.

27/07/2025

This feature dives into the powerful story of Claire Atkins: artist, athlete, and environmental advocate living in Northern NSW, who found her strength and purpose through ocean swimming.

Once a long-distance runner, Claire turned to the sea after knee pain and COVID restrictions changed her path. What began as a fearful step into deep water became a life-changing connection to nature, community, and conservation. Claire now leads open-water swims along the Northern Rivers, encouraging other women—especially those in mid-life—to embrace the ocean and overcome fear through shared experiences.

She’s swam with turtles, sharks, and rays, explored lesser-known reefs, and now dedicates her travels to marine conservation efforts, like plastic cleanups and turtle rescue initiatives. Her story is also one of creativity and risk-taking:

“I don’t go looking for trouble, but our lives are far too short to play it safe. And why would we? After all, it’s in our nature. We are wild things.”

Claire’s mission reminds us that facing the unknown, especially in nature, can lead to personal growth and a deeper sense of purpose.

27/07/2025

Festival update: Due to weather, the Wardell River Festival is now set for Saturday 30 August in Ballina!

Go and celebrate with an awesome lineup of local youth bands including Savage Cabbage, The Bones, Ziggy Brown and more!

There will also be contemporary folk music from Bella Frankie Music , toe-tapping fun from Cigar Box Smithy, local rockers River Drive and tropical soundscapes of . The Wardell River Festival will not be one to miss!

12/07/2025

From Bondi Beach to World Champion, Pauline Menczer’s journey is one of fierce determination, resilience, and advocacy.

Battling chronic illness, financial hardship, and discrimination, Pauline made history as the only World Champion surfer from Bondi. Beyond her victories, she’s become a passionate voice for people with disability and autoimmune diseases, using her platform to inspire and support others.

As Pauline says, “It’s not just about winning a title, it’s about what I went through to get there.” Her legacy continues to empower future generations, reminding us all of the power of grit and community.

Read the full interview in our July edition, Byron Wave 🗞🗞