Celebrate Our Olympic Heroes at the Tweed Regional Museum Street Party!

Join us in Murwillumbah on Saturday, 31 August, as we roll out the red carpet for our Tweed Olympic athletes at the Tweed Regional Museum’s epic Street Party celebrations!

We’re thrilled to welcome home two of the Tweed’s Olympic stars—marathon swimmer and silver medallist Moesha Johnson, and fellow swimmer Isabella Rose Millar, who proudly represented the Solomon Islands in Paris.

As we kick off the Paralympics, we’re also honoured to host former Paralympic champion Tracy Lee Barrell OAM, who won two gold medals at the 1992 Barcelona Games. Tracy, a triple congenital amputee and Paralympic swimmer, is a passionate advocate for people with disabilities in the Tweed.

Event Highlights

• Welcome to Our Athletes: Moesha, Isabella, and Tracy will join the Street Party right after the official Welcome to Country at 12:30 pm. Don’t miss your chance to meet these inspiring athletes, ask them questions, get autographs, and snap photos with your local heroes.
• Olympic Village Marquee: A special Olympic Village marquee, complete with a winners’ podium, will be set up for the kids to enjoy some Olympic-themed fun!

Street Party Extravaganza

The Olympian welcome is just one part of the action-packed Street Party 2024, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the award-winning Tweed Regional Museum. Thanks to the NSW Government’s Open Streets Program, Queensland Road in front of the Museum will be closed for the event, running from 12 pm to 7 pm.

Here’s a taste of what’s in store:

• Live Music and Flash Dance Mobs: Enjoy a stellar lineup of live performances and spontaneous dance mobs that will keep the energy high throughout the afternoon.
• Swamp Beer Garden & Makers Lane: Sip on local brews in the Swamp Beer Garden or explore Makers Lane, featuring creative public art and local artisans.
• Going Bananas: From 12 pm to 5 pm, the Tweed Valley Banana Festival Float is back, complete with a regal throne and four fabulous Banana Queens. Enjoy photo ops, chat with the Queens, and indulge in all things banana!
• Six Seasons Cultural Calendar and Connection to Country: Drop by from 1 pm to 5 pm for insightful yarns with Uncle Franc, a Bundjalung elder from the Minyangbal language group, and explore the adaptive Cultural Calendar.
• Adventure Game: Kids, grab your Game Card and embark on an adventure throughout the Museum and Street Party. Discover hidden stories, contribute to chalk murals, and more.
• Story Salon at the Museum on Wheels: From 12 pm to 5 pm, join the Story Salon for a modern twist on French salons! Delve into conversations with the Murwillumbah Historical Society, explore local history, and contribute to a collaborative story using old typewriters.
• Tweed Tales Trivia: Tall or True?: Test your knowledge of Tweed’s history from 18+ with fantastic prizes up for grabs. Can you tell a tall tale from the truth?

To learn more, visit the Tweed Regional Museum website or follow us on social media. For the full program, register at Tweed Regional Museum Street Party.

Let’s celebrate our local heroes and the vibrant history of the Tweed region together!

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Northern Rivers Safe Havens Extended Until End of 2025

By Robert Heyward

Residents of the Northern Rivers region will continue to have access to vital mental health support and counselling services, thanks to the extension of all four Safe Havens across the area until December 2025. These Safe Havens, located in Lismore, Murwillumbah, Mullumbimby, and Woodburn, offer free, compassionate, and non-clinical mental health support for adults in a welcoming “drop-in” environment.

Originally commissioned in 2022 by Healthy North Coast as part of the NSW Government’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Flood Recovery Package, the Safe Havens were established in response to the devastating floods that hit the Northern Rivers region. Since their inception, these centres, operated by The Buttery, have provided over 15,600 hours of counselling to more than 14,400 participants.

The extension was announced by The Hon Rose Jackson, Minister for Mental Health and North Coast, during a visit to the Mullumbimby Safe Haven. She emphasised the importance of these services to the community, particularly in the aftermath of the region’s recent natural disasters.

“The mental health and wellbeing of every individual is a top priority, and the NSW Government is committed to improved mental health outcomes on the North Coast. The extension of these four Safe Haven sites is crucial—they’ve been embraced by the Northern Rivers community not just for the expert mental health support they provide, but as safe and welcoming spaces during times of disruption,” Minister Jackson said. “We are pleased to keep these services running until the end of 2025.”

Safe Haven Northern Rivers – Photo sourced from Safe Haven North Coast

Monika Wheeler, CEO of Healthy North Coast, highlighted the ongoing need for these services: “More than 700 people connected with the Safe Havens during June alone, showing us that these services are still essential for the community. With floods and droughts expected to increase in intensity and frequency, it is vitally important that Safe Haven services remain available to those still feeling the impact of the 2022 flood events.”

Healthy North Coast, in collaboration with the NSW Government, has adjusted service activities under the funding agreement to ensure the Safe Havens will remain open until 31 December 2025. These sites will continue to offer both clinical and non-clinical support to the community from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Leone Crayden, CEO of The Buttery, expressed her gratitude for the extension, noting the importance of the Safe Havens to the community. “It is welcome news that we can continue to keep the doors open at the four Safe Haven sites until 31 December 2025. The counselling and wellbeing support have been very well received, and our co-location agreements with other providers allow the community to access additional support for housing, flood recovery, and social activities such as local BBQs or network meetings. Safe Havens offer a place to connect, which is important for wellbeing.”

Dee, a Peer Worker at one of the Safe Havens, echoed these sentiments: “It’s great news that the Safe Havens are being continued in the heavily flood-affected communities we work in. Mental health services are both valued and needed. The drop-in, no-appointment-needed space that people can access without referral is a refreshing and much-needed approach in mental health, especially with the easy access to Peer Workers.”

For more information, visit safehavennc.org.au or visit your community’s Safe Haven:

• Lismore | 46 Magellan Street (next to Lismore Regional Gallery)
• Mullumbimby | 15 Tincogan Street (Behind the Mullumbimby and District Neighbourhood Centre)
• Murwillumbah | Shop 10-12/41-45 Murwillumbah Street
• Woodburn | 114 River Street

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THE MURBAH PRESENTS FRIDAYS AT M-ARTS PRECINCT MURWILLUMBAH

Due to popular demand The Murbah Presents Fridays at M Arts Precinct will continue to bring a little funky vibe to your weekend in Murwillumbah.

Who doesn’t like a little funky disco house? Well listen up people, The M-Arts precinct is continuing it’s efforts to support local performance artists this time with an exciting line up of Dj’s hosted by local promoter Sean Finlay on Friday nights.

After a successful month in June of bringing together a team of Dj’s including celebrated DJ Abel Toro from Mullumbimby and local DJ’s Vinnie and Nicholas Ching is sourcing more talented DJS from Byron to Burleigh with Djs Jr Dynamite, Dave Carnovale, Wax Addicts, and DJ Ashton from Flo Records now on board to give you a place to kick off your weekends … for Free.

Yes that’s right for no cost, you can enjoy these talents with some tasty pizzas from Fancies, an with an ice cold Earth beer off the tap or a cocktail from the M- Arts Bar Café So if you miss the era when Murwillumbah was a hub of night time festivities and you enjoy music that has a sweet essence of soul and funk to it? Then head on in to M-Arts for their after work happy hour from 4 till 6pm to get your weekend started.”

About The Murbah The Murbah is an events company set up to produce pop up events around the Northern Rivers Caldera Valley that brings together people who enjoy good soulful music and an atmosphere of community.

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