How long have you been running Two-Up in Bangalow, and what exactly is your role in the ring?
I’ve run the Two-Up for 25 years at the Bangalow Hotel, the Bangalow Bowlo and now at the Bangalow Lions Club Bar and BBQ Kiosk at the Showgrounds. I’m the ‘Boxer’ and the ‘Centre Banker’, so I run the Two-Up School and cover the centre bet from the spinner, who must try and throw heads of course. ‘Cowboy Olly’ from Eureka is the ‘Ringer’, he supervises the penny spins and holds the centre bet, and ‘Bangalow Maxy’ is ‘Penciller’, recording the next up spinner and the heads or tails results. It works out pretty even on the day most years.

For someone who’s never seen it before, what makes the Bangalow Two-Up School special?
It’s quite a colourful old-school experience for the many visitors in town on the day, and especially tourists from abroad who have never seen anything like it. Of course it’s unique to Australia, it has some measure of crude Aussie charm and that’s why we do it every year. It’s not something you can replicate or package up, it just happens organically with the crowd, the calls, the laughter and the odd groan when the pennies land the wrong way.

Why is it important to keep this tradition going?
There are a few reasons, but the main one is respect for Australian tradition and heritage, respect for ANZAC Day and to preserve the memories of Aussie diggers who fought and died for our country. Secondly, it’s a good fun old-school pastime and has to be the fairest form of light gambling imaginable, heads or tails, that’s pretty simple. Thirdly: it allows Bangalow Lions to raise funds for our local relevant charities, so it’s a fun community day for Bangalow with a bit of purpose behind it.

You mentioned ANZAC Day – what does the day mean to you personally?
My own forebears fought in the Great War, WWII and Vietnam and they all despised the conflict, the death, the destruction and abhorred the futility of war, but they all marched on ANZAC Day to remember their mates, those that made it and those that didn’t. It’s important that our children understand and respect our country’s history and the raison d’être for Australia’s ANZAC Day on 25 April every year. It’s not just a piss up, it means something. It’s important to Australia and Australians, and Kiwis of course.

There’s a strong community element to the day as well – who benefits from the funds raised?
We will split any and all proceeds on the day between Lions for Legacy, The Younger Heroes and Bangalow Red Cross, who all do such a wonderful job of supporting the families of veterans. They deserve our support on ANZAC Day in particular. We will shake the donation bucket every 10 spins and encourage folks to throw in a few bob each time. The obvious winners will receive a lot more encouragement, that’s for sure.

Some people might think it’s just about the gambling – how do you see it?
It’s not really that much about the gambling at all, we don’t play for sheep stations. I’m happy not to win or lose on the day and for everybody to have a laugh and enjoy themselves and each others’ company. It’s more about the atmosphere, the connection, and doing something together that’s been part of Australian life for a long time.

It’s actually only legal in NSW once a year on ANZAC Day, 25 April, and I think that’s just perfect. We’re allowed to start the game earlier in the day but I think 2–6pm is quite enough. It’s bloody exhausting bouncing around the ring like a clown. And we don’t need to overdo the gambling side of things; we want everyone to leave happy and have enjoyed their once-a-year Bangalow Two-Up School experience.

How does the day fit into the wider ANZAC Day events in Bangalow?
It’s important to connect and participate in the ANZAC Day March down Byron Street and the Bangalow RSL Hall ceremony. That’s what anchors the day. The Two-Up comes after that, and it’s all part of remembering and respecting the reasons for ANZAC Day while bringing people together in a way that feels natural and local.

What would you say to someone thinking about coming along for the first time?
It’s a fun day really for the Bangalow community with a subtle but solemn purpose of preserving ANZAC Day traditions and heritage, supporting our local charities and bringing people together for good old-fashioned Aussie community spirit. Come along, bring a few bucks and good vibes, and you’ll understand what it’s all about pretty quickly. See you at the Two-Up.

Every Tuesday night the Bangalow Hotel rocks to the sound of a bunch of passionate people doing what they love best – playing chess, and watching others play.

Five or six years ago the game broke free of its stereotypes to become one of the world’s most followed spectator activities. The 20 or so regulars at the Bangalow Chess Club are a perfect illustration of this: young, diverse, enthusiastic, and willing to come from afar every week to socialise and compete against each other.

Avalon, currently No. 1 on the leader board, travels from Mullumbimby; and the reputed ‘most improved’ player, Bradley, comes all the way from Nimbin. There’s even an international flavour to the line-up, but 2479 locals also feature among the throng, among them man about town, Lydian Dunbar.

They’re drawn by the chess challenges on offer, but something more as well – an atmosphere of camaraderie and respect. There’s an almost family vibe to the club: indeed, Evan Manttari founded it with his brother Daniel, and former girlfriend Shyla, a bar staffer at the pub. They were looking for something to get them off their screens and out of the house, something which meant the brothers could hang out together regularly. Now Daniel and his girlfriend Teagan – a recent recruit to the game – drive up frequently from their home in Yamba.

Shyla’s mum, Bec, is another who started as a beginner, and says she’s making solid progress. Her main weakness is taking too long to decide on a move, she says, and with each player rationed to 10-minutes for each of the four games played through the night, such hesitancy can mean an automatic loss. The time pressure suits Bec’s other daughter, Amarlie, at 16 the club’s youngest member, who credits her success to a fast, decisive style. It can intimidate opponents, she says, smiling sweetly as she concedes the word ‘aggressive’ might define her style – including in games against her more tentative mum.

But even ruthless Amarlie admits it’s the sense of community that keeps her coming back.

Avalon is one of the more experienced players here: after being taught to play at a young age by his grandfather, he helped set up chess clubs at all the schools he attended while growing up, from Shearwater to Xavier to the Green School. Of the many chess groups and associations he’s been part of, the Bangalow club is the best, he says. The reason? Because the focus is on actual playing. With at least four games guaranteed per player, it’s like a mini tournament. Self-described as “incredibly competitive”, Avalon enjoys the opportunity to play several games, face to face, and with a variety of opponents.

Some of them are, like him, top-notch players and on one rainy Tuesday night in early March, Avalon was slightly startled to find himself suddenly in a trap – the result of a mid-game “fried liver advanced attack variation” – laid, albeit semi-accidentally, by the equally competitive Miela. Checkmate!

At other tables, beginner or intermediate players compete with others at their level – matched appropriately through an algorithm-driven system devised by Evan. While the club offers no formal coaching, there’s plenty of learning ‘on the job’ and during post-game analysis, when the better players offer fruitful feedback.

There are several tiers here; everyone finds their level and they’re all eager to improve. Rob, in his 30s, plays games online. He also follows the games of world No.1, Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, on YouTube and is “working on some new openings”.

At 21, rising star Bradley, meanwhile, feels his strength is in his end game. Having come to the club every Tuesday since it began last September, his game has improved 100%, he says.

Towards the end of the four games an air of collective excitement builds at the prospect of a tie-break. At this point, the four 10-minute per person limit shrinks to three-minutes, demanding a heightened degree of concentration and rapid decision-making. The Velvets and Mazzy Star continue supplying the background music, but as the tension rises, even the drinkers and pool players fall silent to watch. The time pressure means mistakes are made: Black’s excessive focus on a potential checkmate in one corner distracts him from the devious White manoeuvre diagonally opposite and whammo! It’s all over.

Evan, meanwhile, has been scampering around in the background, a gleeful master of ceremonies, firing up the AI generated weighted system that records games, matches players and keeps everything moving. The nights represent a magical triad for him: “It’s an ancient game, aided here by modern technology, bringing people together.”

Time to spin the prize-wheel, on which everyone features, with a ‘slice’ allocated for just turning up, and the awarding of the evening’s $20 voucher.

Chess has exploded in the past half dozen years – partly as a result of the massively popular streaming series The Queen’s Gambit, which coincided with COVID lockdowns. Locked-up people found release and stimulation in “meeting” others over the virtual board. Evan says the fulfilment of that personal need is one of the main reasons for the club’s success. Most of the members still play online, but they all state that it’s the face-to-face interaction that brings them out at night.

Bec enjoys it because “there are so many different types of people’” and the atmosphere is friendly and, while competitive, remains respectful, she says.

Chess is an incredibly valuable activity for young people, Avalon says: “It builds a level of resilience, a determination to persevere, to keep your chin up despite losing 100 times. It also develops the capacity for forethought.”

There’s even a moral, or character-building benefit to it: “It teaches humility and it’s a demonstration that our actions have consequences,” he says.

Mainly, however, at this grass-roots level, it’s the “humanness” of it, says Evan, the craic and the connection, both intellectually sophisticated and innocent.

It’s been a revelation for him: “Daniel and I started the club for ourselves, but it’s become something for others. People have made friends here; it costs nothing, but there’s real joy in that room.”

Bangalow Chess meets every Tuesday, 6-9pm at the Bangalow Hotel.

For details email bangalowchess@gmail.com

Photos Yutaro Fukuhara

When Australian composer, performer and writer Eddie Perfect – the Tony-nominated creator of Broadway’s Beetlejuice the Musical and King Kong – chooses to redevelop a work with a regional company, you take notice. When he then hands that company the keys to premiere the newly reimagined production, you realise you are witnessing something big.

And 19-28 March, BTC will present Vivid White at Brunswick Picture House, a newly imagined work that evolved from an intimate and interactive workshop process with Eddie Perfect himself.

For Bangalow’s Joel Cooper (who plays celebrity architect Evan Prescott and co-produced the development phase) – the journey has been extraordinary.

“It has been incredible on so many levels,” he says. “For the company to be working so intimately and closely with Eddie – someone of his esteem – has just been so amazing.”

The relationship began with BTC’s production of Eddie’s play The Beast, directed by BTC co-founder and fellow Bangalow resident Anouska Gammon. That bold, left-field work struck a chord with Northern Rivers audiences and went on to earn multiple awards and widespread recognition, cementing BTC’s reputation for ambitious, intelligent theatre.

“The Beast really translated well for our local audiences,” Joel says. “They are receiving new theatre in a really open way, and that’s exciting.”

That openness planted a seed.

Eddie first wrote a version of Vivid White for Melbourne Theatre Company in 2017 but had always felt passionate about reworking and revisiting the piece, giving it more time in the creative development space. “The stars aligned when he saw that BTC was performing The Beast and he called Anouska and offered BTC the opportunity to be the vessel of redevelopment of the work.

A small cast assembled for a workshop process that was anything but routine. Eddie arrived with new material, rewrites and songs still taking shape. The work was a living, breathing, pulsing project that fused enthusiasm and experience in an organic and compelling way.

“He was writing songs in the space with us,” Joel says. “The outcome was to complete the show and see some new ideas and new character arcs and how they would land within the context of the work. We were just blown away.”

Importantly, the workshop was not a guarantee of performance rights. “It was never like, let’s workshop this and then you can do it,” Joel explains. “There were still a lot of questions around the show, and the future of the piece remained in Eddie’s hands.”

But the BTC held quiet hopes that they would be entrusted to light up the piece on stage for its debut.

Months later, after Eddie had stepped into the title role of Beetlejuice in Australia, BTC reached out again.

“There was a moment where we, as a theatre company, said ‘We really want to do this. We think we can tackle this,’” Joel says. Anouska spoke to Eddie and “And he said, let’s do it. Let’s take it to season.”

For a volunteer-driven regional company, that trust speaks volumes – and reflects the strength of leadership within BTC. Under Anouska’s direction, the company has consistently embraced challenging, contemporary work while nurturing a deep well of local talent.

“We’re all volunteers pouring our heart and soul into it. To be recognised at that level and for Eddie to trust us in that process was phenomenal,” Joel says.

Even now, the shape of the show is transmuting. Songs have shifted. The ending has been transfigured more than once.

“The piece is alive,” Joel says. “Eddie and Anouska and the creative team are back and forth every week. ‘How did this land? How is this song working?’ We’ve just flipped the ending again and now have this fabulous, hilarious ending song that was never in the iteration of the show.”

For BTC, this process has tapped into a collaborative flow-state fuelled by creative resonance.

“Bangalow Theatre Company has never had to work like this – being so agile and having the writer be such an active part of the whole production timeline.”

The play follows two university friends who have taken vastly different paths: Evan Prescott (played by Joel), now a television celebrity architect, and his former peer, who has wound up working in community housing. The tension erupts at a house auction, and much tension pivots on the extreme collision between renters and buyers – particularly poignant in the midst of a housing crisis.

“It’s very topical,” Joel says. “It leans into the issue of housing and will make people feel uncomfortable – not in a negative way, but in a holding-a-mirror-up-to-society way.”

His character, Evan, walks that fault line.

“Evan has had to succeed in the world as it is, not in the world as it should be,” says Joel quoting a line from the play.

“He’s constantly in turmoil between two worlds,” Joel says. “He’s got the success, the money, the richness, but he’s watching the world he knew crumble away.”

At its heart, Vivid White is a satire about property, ambition and the Australian dream. The title itself references the Dulux paint colour – a nod to renovation culture and aspirational aesthetics that is so synonymous with our postcode.

Like Perfect’s earlier works, the show tackles big ideas through satire and comedy rather than didacticism.

“It’s these big topics all painted in the stroke of satire and comedy,” Joel says. “We hope the audience leaves feeling inspired and challenged, but they’ve also had an absolutely raucous night at the theatre.”

For theatre lovers in the Northern Rivers, this production is more than a season announcement. It is evidence of the calibre of talent working quietly – and now not so quietly – in our region.

To workshop a major musical with a Broadway-calibre Australian artist is rare. To premiere the finished work is extraordinary.

For Bangalow Theatre Company, it is both a milestone and a statement: regional theatre can be fearless, sophisticated and significant.

And for those of us lucky enough to sit in the audience, it promises to be a blindingly good night out.

Sally Schofield

Vivid White

19 – 28 March Brunswick Picture House
brunswickpicturehouse.com
Presented by Bangalow Theatre Company and Brunswick Picture House

When Zoe Olive first dreamt up the Bangalow Buckle Challenge in 2018, she wasn’t chasing ribbons or prestige – she wanted to open the gates of horsemanship to everyone. The result is a uniquely inclusive competition that’s grown from 39 competitors in its first year to more than 100 horses converging on the Bangalow Showgrounds annually, all vying for the coveted silver buckle.

“It started because I saw riders who wanted to give stock horse challenges a go, but felt intimidated by the strict rules around registration, gear and presentation,” says Zoe. “So I created something independent, more accessible, where it didn’t matter what breed your horse was or what saddle you used – you just had to give it a go.”

The Bangalow Buckle Challenge is now a two-day event held annually in early March, with categories designed to cater to all levels of rider experience and horse age. From juniors and youth encouragement classes to open super horse and master rider divisions, every entrant has the opportunity to develop and showcase their horsemanship across a variety of skills.

“We don’t run a full campdraft,” Zoe explains, adding that each competitor rides four core patterns: a hack (a flatwork sequence judged on movement and presentation), a utility pattern (obstacles such as gates, poles and side-passing), a working pattern (showing agility and responsiveness often used in stock work) and cattle work. “We call it ‘beast work’ – it’s a controlled introduction where each rider gets two minutes with a single beast in the arena, aiming to demonstrate control, movement and flow.”

Campdrafting, which you may have seen in action at the Bangalow Show, requires a rider to select a single beast from a small group, separate it from the mob in a yard (or “camp”), and then guide it through a cloverleaf-shaped course at speed. It demands a high degree of cattle knowledge, horse skill and split-second decision-making. While thrilling to watch, it can be daunting for less experienced riders – which is exactly why Zoe chose a simplified format that allows everyone to have a go, regardless of background or skill level.

And it’s not just the competitors who get involved. The event is run entirely by volunteers, with many participants helping set up, ‘pencil’ for judges (writing down scores) or serving lunches in between their own rides. “It’s a real community effort,” says Zoe. “I couldn’t do it without them. That’s why we introduced the Big Effort Big Buckle – a prize not for the best rider, but for the competitor who shows the most spirit and willingness to help. It started out as a joke but now it’s one of the most prized buckles of the event.”

One of those buckle winners is former Bangalow Herald committee member Ean Jones, who has taken out both the Master Rider Buckle and the Big Effort Buckle. “He’s a real all-rounder,” Zoe says. “Always up for helping out and just such a great sport.”

The buckle itself is a key part of the event’s identity. “I chose a buckle because it’s something you can wear. It’s a visible trophy – you don’t just stick it on a shelf,” says Zoe. “People see it and ask, ‘What did you win that for?’ It sparks stories.”

The design has evolved over the years, with Zoe determined to find a buckle maker who could produce a high-quality, personalised piece. She now works with an Australian-owned company to design buckles with custom engraving, coloured stones and each buckle is stamped with the year, event and division. “We try to make each one special. Whether it’s for the Encouragement Challenge or the Open Super Horse, that rider has earned it.”

That spirit of inclusion is matched by a high standard of horsemanship and judging. Each section has its own judge, many of whom return year after year. “I encourage riders to chat to the judges, ask questions, get feedback. It’s a learning opportunity as well as a competition,” she says. In fact, the event kicks off with a two-hour warm-up session where competitors rotate through each ring to practise patterns and get rid of their “nerves and butterflies” – both horse and rider.

And while Zoe has run the event independently since day one, she’s quick to acknowledge her loyal supporters. Local businesses help feed the judges and volunteers, and a huge array of sponsors keep the event running. “We couldn’t have done this without them,” she says.

Despite running the event, Zoe has managed to ride in previous years – though she admits she’s yet to claim a buckle of her own. “I’ve come second,” she smiles. “But this year I’ve told my team that everyone who helps has to get their ride in too. We’re not riding for sheep stations—we’re doing this so everyone can have a go.”

The Bangalow Buckle Challenge is also evolving. This year sees the debut of a whipcracking competition, complete with community barbecue and bar, judged by a former Australian whipcracking champion. “It’s all part of creating a space where the whole town can come and participate, even if they don’t ride,” says Zoe.

That mindset – of making room, breaking down barriers and encouraging growth – is what sets the Bangalow Buckle Challenge apart. “Whether it’s a child on their first pony, an older rider coming back after a break, or someone just wanting to try something new, there’s a place for them here,” says Zoe. “And if they win a buckle? Even better.”

The Bangalow Buckle Challenge returns to the Bangalow Showground on Saturday 28 February and Sunday 1 March 2026, featuring two full days of versatile horse challenges for all breeds. The program includes the Super Horse Challenge, Encouragement and Jackaroo/Jillaroo Maiden Challenges, Youth and Young Horse classes, and the popular Bangalow Bucket Obstacle Trial. Special awards include the Equestrienne Magazine All Round Lady Rider Award, the Norco Stock Feeds Magnificent Master Rider Award and the Glen Gough Big Effort Big Buckle Award.

The Triple Crown Trophy will also return, spanning three regional events. Saturday begins with practice at 7.30am and competitions from 9.30am, followed by a Lions Club BBQ and the inaugural Northern Rivers Whip Cracking Championship. Sunday features cattle work, obstacle trials and awards. Public spectators most welcome – free entry.

It’s exhausting, living this way, when your body is a moving target.

That’s why V-Day matters. At dawn on Saturday 14 February – yes, Valentine’s Day – women, non-binary folk, and allies rise up, dressed in red on Main Beach, Byron Bay.

It’s a flashmob that’s part of the global One Billion Rising movement, that turns a day of Hallmark schmaltz and overpriced flowers into one of collective power. Because for many, relationships don’t always mean romance and respect. Or safety.

With the sand beneath our feet and the early sun on our faces, movement becomes language with a collective dance to V-Day anthem Break the Chain.

The dance acknowledges the suffering of the one-in-three women who will be beaten or raped in their lifetime. We dance because our rage needs rhythm. We dance because – unlike the 60-something Australian women who lost their lives to intimate partner violence in 2025 – we are still here. We dance because we’re not willing to let that be our daughters’ inheritance.

To those who think our slice of paradise is immune to abuses, you’re wrong. There are stories here that would make your hair curl, and over the last decade women from around the region have shared their stories as part of The Vagina Conversations, a collaborative show featuring women and people with vaginas. Inspired by Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues, Director Zenith Virago felt that our local community had their own stories to tell. So, she pulled together a contemporary re-imagining – not a monologue but a conversation.

This year, the Brunswick Picture House transforms into a space of courage and truth-telling.This show is not your standard theatre. It’s raw, local, real. It’s nurses, teachers, aunties, survivors – women from 17 to 83 – who step up to share their personal stories, often for the first time.

There’s knowing laughter. There’s heavy silence. There are moments when I’ve had to close my eyes, my face leaking, while I breathe through someone’s truth because it’s all too familiar.

“This show is activism in action,” says Mandy Nolan. And it is. All proceeds support frontline services like the Mullumbimby Womens’ Resource Service and Pottsville Neighbourhood Centre. To date, over $158,000 has been raised to support women escaping domestic and family violence.

So, to anyone who has felt that same tight grip of fear walking home, I say: join us. Sit with us at The Vagina Conversations and let someone else’s story make you see red. Then, if you can, on Saturday 14 February, rise early, dress in red, and come dance at the beach.

Because when we stand together, nobody flinches when you say vagina. And we remember: this body is not a battleground. It’s a force.

Sally Schofield

Photo credit: Lyn McCarthy – Niche Pictures

According to Bangalow Agricultural and Industrial Society Secretary, Anne McClelland (full story page 11), the Unique Selling Proposition of the Bangalow show is that, unlike other shows in the North Coast circuit, it’s held in the centre of town. The last Show held in the 12 Far North Coast NSW group of shows, Anne says it’s the relaxed rural atmosphere created by the huge old trees around the grounds that particularly appeals. “Many of our regular stallholders let us know it’s their favourite show location,” she said.

While the popular Ironman competition has been offered for more than 30 years, the Woodchop event in the main ring on Saturday evening is increasing in popularity, too, since its comparatively recent addition to the program. The Boot Toss and Base Zero Mobile Rock Climbing events are both new this year.

The 25 members of the Show Committee, plus the 12 members of the Grounds Committee, regularly come up with good ideas for new events: then comes trying to slot that new event into the tight timetable.

Some events fade in popularity after a while, such as the Rodeo Musical Chairs, Anne says. At times, organisers need to “roll with the punches”. One year, the Hendra Virus affected horses around the State, which weren’t allowed to travel off-farm. So, horse events had to be substituted with camels. People are still talking about it!

Essentially, there are four separate ‘streams’ happening over the two days: competitive ‘indoor’ events happening inside the Pavilion, the ‘outdoor’ Ring events, the Village Green events, and the commercial stalls and rides, which line the Show’s internal pathways.

The theme of this year’s show is ‘Bangas ‘n’ Boots’ (Bangas being short for ‘Bangalow’ not sausages). Inside the Pavilion, entries are beautifully displayed in purpose-built cabinets. Competition is fierce: farm produce, horticulture, flowers, cookery, preserves, art and photography, needlework, patchwork and quilting, craft and the written word. Any one of these sections can receive hundreds of entries, submitted from children to adults.

Judges for some animal-related outdoor events are selected from the AgShowsNSW comprehensive database and must follow strict regulations. Other judges will be sourced from different specific disciplines or breed associations, such as the Stock Horse Association NSW, Australian Bushmen’s and Campdraft Association and Equestrian Australia. They may need to travel from as far as Canberra or Queensland and need to be accommodated. These days, local guest accommodation has become so expensive, judges now stay in Ballina motels. Judges for the Pavilion events are primarily local.

For the Head Steward, work starts on preparing each year’s event by April. For Anne and Show Society President, Donna Jenner, there’s paperwork year-round. Apart from around 25 Society members meeting monthly throughout the year to organise the Show, a number of other local community groups contribute to staging the event. The Lions group runs the kiosk. The CWA provides Devonshire teas. Ballina Rotary handles parking while the Bangalow Mens Shed is on the gates. The school P&C handles the games on the Village Green, open to kids nine years and under (egg and spoon race, three-legged race, sack race). And The Bangalow Herald organises the Bush Poets Competition featuring a $100 prize and a sash.

Popular events on the Village Green also include the reptile display, baby animals and woodwork demonstrations, while the dog high jump and the Friday after school Pet Parade always attract a crowd. Primary school-aged children can also participate in an on-site treasure hunt on Saturday. Collect a form from the Show Office and then mark off numbered boots and other footwear hidden around the Show. Return your completed form to the Show Office before 2pm Saturday for your chance to win a prize.

Donna emphasises that the Society is well supported by between 250 to 300 volunteers. “We’d love more people to help us once the Show finishes Sunday lunchtime,” Donna said. “We need to leave everything clean as the following weekend the monthly markets happen here.”

This may be seen as a relaxed “country show”, but the pressure to win events is cut-throat. One year, The Land interviewed a regular contestant for the extremely popular Tart of the Show Event. Asked what it takes to win it, she replied: “It’s easier to sleep with half the  blokes in the Bangalow Pub than win the Tart of the Show.”

How long would it take you to gobble down an “old fashioned” 130 gm beef burger with the lot (meaning beetroot, lettuce, tomato, carrot, pineapple, bacon, egg, caramelised onion and cheese, tomato relish and mayonnaise), a 500ml chocolate thick shake, and a side order of chips?

That’s what the contestants in the Bangalow Show’s Big Bang Bite competition have lined up to do every year since 2011. Though popular with enthusiastic onlookers, only a dozen or so seasoned scoffers are brave enough to enter. The youngest recorded entrant in previous comps was just eight years old – generally this event is most popular with hungry hollow-legged teenagers, with a few brave adults also trying their luck. It’s also far more popular with boys than girls. “There’s always a good turnout,” says Tim Jung, owner of the Bang Burger Bar which provides the burgers on the day – and throughout the year.

This year, his sous chef, Tim Faggotter, will not only host the event, circulating the Show “loud and proud” in the preceding hours to rustle up interest and scout for new entrants, but he’ll enter the competition too. So, Tim Jung has created a new challenge: ‘Beat the Chef’. Tim Faggotter has already been in training for some weeks and has his time down to just under three minutes – though that’s only to eat the burger, not slurp down the thick shake and gobble up the chips. (The usual length of time it takes to down the lot is around five minutes.)

Early in October, five entrants had already signed up, but you have until 11.30am on the Saturday to register. Apart from bragging rights, the winner receives $50 and a stylish rosette, which is to be worn as a badge of honour for the rest of the day.

Next door to the Bang Burger Bar is the popular bottle shop, The Cellar Bangalow. Two employees there are already in training for this event. Jack Taylor, who recently moved to the area from Singapore, is a rugby player and a boxer, so is a big eater yearround. He’s dead serious about his intent to win. “I’m not here to be average,” the 18-year-old says. His secret to winning? Not eating breakfast or lunch before the event.

At the best of times, carnivore Jack eats four meals a day, and a month out from the competition, has his time at three minutes and 45 seconds – and that’s just for the burger. He suspects that he may put on weight while he’s in training, and being offseason, that weight may hang around. But Jack considers it’s worth it. At the risk of informing the competition of his technique, he says his winning strategy is this: “I have big hands. I’ll squish down the burger and chips with one hand, and have the thick shake in the other, so one hand is always at the ready. I’ve been in training to win this competition my whole life!”

Feature image: Past contestants, Shane Olive and Mitch Hutchison, giving the Big Bang Bite a red hot go Photo Maralyn Hanigan

Never heard of Nhulunbuy? It’s a town in the far north of the Northern Territory, on the Gove Peninsula, with a bauxite mine and a deep-water port. But it’s not the final destination. That’s Gulkula, maybe a slow 40-minute drive down a long, dusty red-dirt road. Gulkula is an important cultural site, a significant Gumatj ceremonial place, sited on an escarpment overlooking the Arafura Sea. The Gumatj clan, part of the Yolŋu people, have lived there for over 60,000 years.

So who has taken this epic trip, and why? There’s a story behind it all… As a member of Country as Teacher, a not-for-profit cultural curriculum led by Bundjalung educators, traditional custodian and Byron Shire Councillor Delta Kay was invited to attend the 25th annual Garma Festival, held early last month. (This is just one of many strings to Delta’s bow.) The festival is where Yolŋu and Balunda (non- Indigenous) “come together as one” in a “two-way learning process”.

Hosted by the Yothu Yindi Foundation, Garma is a four-day “celebration of Yolŋu life and culture, and showcases traditional miny’tji (art), manikay (song), bunggul (dance) and story-telling”. Down here on the far east coast of NSW, we briefly catch glimpses about this festival, but they’re usually framed in a political context, with some hopeful motherhood statements offered by important politicians.

One of the Country as Teacher programs is called Weaving Waterways. It combines weaving revitalisation with the restoration of our waterways. “The program connects our Bundjalung women to Country and cultural traditions and enables us to continue the care of our waterways,” Delta explains, on returning home.

Last year, the program hosted Yolŋu Elder Djapirri Mununggirritj (a Board Director of the Yothu Yindi Foundation) at their women’s waterway camp. A cultural exchange enabled Delta to attend Garma and share Bundjalung knowledge on the opening day Education Fair. “This day is devoted to the love of learning, with students from local schools and the Garma Youth Forum,” Delta said. “I felt truly inspired to share alongside Djapirri. Her leadership, her open heart and wisdom, is something you need to see and feel.

“We gathered on the bunggul (dance) ground for a unique curriculum, where classrooms are under bough shelters. I shared our bough shelter with Djapirri. We spoke about the importance of our cultural upbringing and education.” They also shared the ‘classroom’ with Djakapurra Munyarryun, a respected Yolŋu song man, dancer and cultural consultant. To close their session, they played a traditional Bundjalung game, which “got everyone smiling and enjoying each other’s company”. Delta incorporates games like this in her popular Byron Shire tours.

Though it was her first time at the Garma Festival, it wasn’t the first time Delta had camped at Gulkula. (By the way, there are no hotels there — everyone sleeps in tents.) She initially met Djapirri at an education program called Culture College in June 2022, when she worked as a mentor with the schools program held between April and October during the dry season. “As mentors, we support visiting students learning from Yolŋu leaders and teachers about their Yolŋu curriculum in law, language, kinship, stories, art and history.”

Around 2,500 people attend Garma. It is also “an important meeting point for the clans and families of the region,” its website reads. “The Festival’s overriding cultural mission is to provide a contemporary environment for the expression and presentation of traditional Yolŋu knowledge systems and customs, and to share these practices in an authentic Yolŋu setting.”

To Delta, “the talks, workshops and dancing, was all mind-blowing! I think I left my heart in Yolŋu Country. The joy at catching up with many special people who I hold in my heart with respect and love; catching up with family and friends from Naarm (Melbourne) was great.”

The festival has a strong emphasis on Yolŋu youth, who stand firm, Delta added. “Education is the heart of Garma. You feel the quiet respect and appreciation from people who attend the sessions. Each day I had incredible conversations with people who sat next to me at dinner or stood in line for lunch, and I witnessed how Garma transforms people and brings them back each year. It was inspiring, exhilarating and deeply moving – and tears ran down my face listening to Gail Mabo’s story.”

Christobel Munson

Sonya Voumard

As a young journalist I read In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, a powerfully descriptive telling of the 1959 brutal murders of a farming family in Kansas. The book was regarded by many as the first non-fiction novel, a concept I found fascinating and inspiring. While I now see that In Cold Blood was deeply flawed, it sparked my interest in the idea of long-form literary journalism’s possibilities. This inspiration was further fuelled by the writings of Helen Garner, initially Monkey Grip, which, while fiction, was transparently written based on true events. Exploring and testing the intersection of life-writing and journalism would become and remain my passion and purpose as a writer.

Sonya will talk about her latest book, Tremor, on Saturday afternoon on the Coolamon stage.

Naima Brown

I’ve always found this to be one of the most difficult questions to answer…it’s like choosing a favourite child. I think I’ve been
just as impacted by the books that were read to me as a child (Goodnight Moon, Where the Wild Things Are) as I’ve been by the literature I’ve read as an adult. Ultimately it comes down to a writer’s ability to transport the reader somewhere that changes them emotionally, that leaves a mark. If I had to highlight one author it would be Barbara Kingsolver. I’ve grown up alongside her work. I remember reading Poisonwood Bible as a teenager, and Demon Copperhead just last year in my 40s: to have an author whose work has been a constant presence in my own life, and where I can track her own evolution as a writer, has been deeply inspiring and reassuring.

Naima appears three times during the festival, interviewing other novelists, and also presenting her own latest novel, Mother Tongue.

Kayte Nunn

The book that lives in my memory, resurfacing at regular intervals, is Joyce’s Dubliners. Its interconnected stories and deft characterisation have continued to resonate with me over the years since I first read it. Its exploration of inner lives and social tensions, its circular themes of isolation, paralysis and the desire to escape to a better reality have so much to offer the reader and thinker. But above all, it is Joyce’s purposeful, layered approach to the narrative that resonates with me as a writer. I love that the stories may be interpreted in a multiplicity of ways and remain intriguing decades later.

Kayte will discuss her most recent novel, The Palazzo, on Friday afternoon’s Murder Mysteries session on the Coolamon stage.

Cancer touches so many lives. Within our own CWA branch, a number of members have experienced cancer first-hand – either as patients or as carers. We’ve seen the strength it takes to face diagnosis and treatment, and the profound impact it has on families. That’s why this cause is close to our hearts.

While the Biggest Morning Tea is well known for raising funds for vital cancer research, we want to shine a light on the many other ways the Cancer Council supports Australians affected by cancer.

Every day, their services help real people in real ways. In 2021 alone, the Cancer Council provided over 29,000 transport trips and 33,000 nights of accommodation so people could get to treatment. They delivered more than 4,000 counselling sessions, and their resources were accessed over 250,000 times. Their support line (13 11 20) connected more than 38,000 people with experienced cancer nurses who offered guidance, compassion and care when it was most needed.

The Cancer Council’s work goes well beyond research. They provide financial, legal and workplace support, offer peer connection through programs like Cancer Connect, and ensure people in rural and regional areas can access services too. They’re also the largest non-government funder of cancer research in Australia, investing $51.7 million in 2021. And through campaigns like National Skin Cancer Action Week, they reached over 21 million Australians with life-saving SunSmart messages.

As a local organisation that believes in the power of community and kindness, we are proud to support this important cause. The Biggest Morning Tea is not just about raising money – it’s about raising awareness, creating connection, and reminding people that they are not alone.

We would love for you to join us. Come along, enjoy a cuppa, something delicious to eat, and a chat with neighbours – all while helping to support the Cancer Council’s incredible work.

Seats are limited, so we encourage the community to book early. Let’s come together to show our support, celebrate resilience, and help fund a future where fewer Australians are impacted by cancer.

Thursday 22 May, 10am-12pm | Moller Pavilion, Bangalow Tickets via Eventbrite

Bangalow CWA

(Also note: CWA Cake and Produce Stall – Saturday 31 May, 8am-12pm

Photos Lyn McCarthy Niche Pictures