The Byron Echo is preparing to celebrate a major milestone this June, marking 40 years of independent community journalism with a special anniversary event that editor Aslan Shand says is both a reflection on its roots and a commitment to the future of local media.
The celebration will be held on Saturday 6 June at Club Byron (Byron Bay Bowling Club), running from 5pm through to 11.55pm, with guests invited to an evening themed “Swinging Through the Decades.” The general admission event will feature live music, cabaret performances, community awards, food and cocktails, and a headline set from the Melbourne Ska Orchestra.
“It’s exciting that we are still here and, particularly in the current media environment, it’s about celebrating that,” Shand said.
Shand, who is Editor of The Byron Shire Echo newspaper and Deputy Editor of The Echo online, said the milestone carries deep personal significance given her family’s central role in the publication’s origins.
For founding editor Nicholas Shand, (Aslan’s father) the Echo began as a very deliberate effort to create a genuinely local and independent newspaper for the region. That meant bringing David and Wendy Lovejoy in as partners, then doing the hard groundwork of building it from the ground up — knocking on doors across the Shire to find advertisers and gather stories for the first edition of what was then the Brunswick Valley Echo. That first paper, which would later become the Byron Shire Echo, was published on 11 June 1986
Shand said those early values continue to shape the paper’s editorial approach today, including its strong commitment to independent, community-driven reporting.
“We do have that left-wing fundamental, you know, everyone should be equal kind of journalistic approach,” she said. “That’s what we’re based on.”
She said that perspective underpins the way The Echo reflects the region it serves.
“It came from the community,” Shand said. “My parents were part of that alternative culture that came here in the early 70s and late 60s… it started around that kitchen table.”
That legacy, she said, is reflected in the paper’s ongoing role as a platform for local voices and accountability.
“It’s really important… people see it as their own,” Shand said. “People feel that they can come to us and go, I have an issue or this is something which is impacting us – how do we get a voice?”
The 40-year celebration comes at a time when regional journalism continues to face significant challenges, with hundreds of local newspapers across Australia closing in recent years. Shand said that makes independent media even more vital.
“When we lose local newspapers and local media organisations, you lose a lot of that community connection,” she said. “Suddenly, people will go, how do I have a voice about something that’s impacting me?”
She said The Echo’s role extends beyond reporting, acting as a form of accountability for local institutions.
“As you lose that, you have less accountability from government organisations, from businesses, from councils,” Shand said. “It’s not that they intentionally don’t do these things, but it’s easier to cut corners when there’s no one there asking questions.”
Alongside the anniversary celebrations, The Echo will also present its Community Awards, recognising individuals, organisations and businesses making a meaningful contribution across the Northern Rivers. Award recipients are selected by a committee, with nominations and suggestions coming from a range of sources across the community before final decisions are made.
“It’s about acknowledging those people who do such amazing stuff,” Shand said. “They might not know about this group, but they’ve been working really hard for years.”
She said many of those recognised are often modest about their work, despite years of contribution.
“Some people go, I don’t deserve the award,” she said. “And you’re like, actually, you do deserve the award because you’ve put years and effort into all of this.”
The Swinging Through the Decades theme will set the tone for a night of celebration, nostalgia and entertainment, designed to bring the community together to mark four decades of independent publishing in the Northern Rivers.
Shand said the event is ultimately about connection – both to the paper’s history and to its future.
“It’s about celebrating together and looking forward to what our future is,” she said.
Guests are encouraged to dress to the theme and join what promises to be a landmark night for one of the region’s longest-standing independent publications. Tickets are available now via Humanitix.
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