We start the year by celebrating again just some of the amazing individual and community achievements here on the Northern Rivers, because it’s been yet another extraordinary twelve months across the globe, including in the rainbow region.

We hear about the year-long battle fought and won to save an aged care village in Byron; a high-seas rescue off Lennox; local contributions to the global campaign for Julian Assange’s freedom; a new place for kids to hang out and build in Lismore; a wish come true for a longtime local Chess legend; and a life-changing homelessness outreach program on the Tweed, to name just some of today’s 2024 Northern Rivers Highlights.

1.      Byron’s battle to save aged care cottages won featuring former Family and Friends of Feros Residents group Founding Member Maree Eddings

2.      Building hope in Lismore’s lego cafe featuring Lismore Brick Lounge lego café owner Andrew Haagensen and daughter Taalia Haagensen (with Kaea and Gabriela Armitage Mohi)

3.    Reaching out to Richie: the Tweed outreach service housing people from the streets  featuring Social Futures Tweed Outreach Caseworker Sacha Zunic

4.        Northern Rivers support for Assange as deep as the Tweed, says father featuring longtime campaigner for his son (Julian Assange)’s freedom, John Shipton, Northern Rivers NSW for Assange founding member Roy Drew (with Bay FM Roadtrip presenter Nell Schofield)

5.      The long game: 20-year Chess dream comes true in Byron featuring Byron Bay Chess Club Founder Peter Hanna

6.      Pre-dawn volunteer rescue as trawler sinks near Lennox featuring NSW Marine Rescue Ballina i30 Master Geoff Hutchinson

7.        SONG: George Jim Stephens, featuring Rusty Miller

*producer: Mia Armitage. Reports by Mia Armitage unless otherwise indicated.

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PIC: John Shipton at the Mullumbimby Civic Hall, May 2024 (Mala Norris)