From the Editor
What does it mean to live well, and to do so in a way that feels both meaningful and sustainable? Recycle, use less plastic, borrow don’t buy – think before you act (and speak). These are simple examples, but the day is full of moments for conscious choices, and in this edition we hear from exemplary residents living their best lives.
Long-time local, former cattle farmer and nonagenarian Denzil Thomas whose enduring passion for playing the organ is a reminder that a life well lived doesn’t slow down, it simply deepens. There’s the musical Anglican minister whose path was set in motion by a recording of Bob Dylan, proof that inspiration can arrive at any moment and reshape a life. Young folk of 2479 explore a world of pure imagination in a very sweet school musical, and a Bangalow mother and daughter acting duo step out of their comfort zones, embracing the vulnerability and joy that come with following a cherished dream.
Our book reviewer, Carolyn Adams, takes us further afield, recounting a remarkable 15-week ‘bucket list’ journey that included a white Christmas, Marrakech markets, and the simple pleasure of time spent exploring the world beyond 2479. It’s a gentle reminder to say yes to adventures when they present themselves.
There are also timely features that reflect a growing awareness of how we live. Sustainable homes, electric vehicles and even medicinal bees point to a future where living well also means living thoughtfully.
Taken together, this edition is less about any single definition of ‘the good life’ and more about the many ways it can take shape. Whether through creativity, travel, community or conscious living, the common thread is intention – choose wisely and enjoy.
As always, it’s a privilege to share these stories from our community, and I deeply appreciate the team that makes this publication happen every month – including you, dear reader.
Sally Schofield
Up and down the Northern Rivers coastline, from Wardell and Broadwater, up through Lennox Head to Tyagarah, hundreds and hundreds of beehives are carefully, and prudently, nurtured and maintained year-round… Read more: Where the bee sucks
Attend a service at All Souls Anglican church on a Sunday morning and you will not see Denzil Thomas, but you will most certainly hear him.
Flash flooding in the middle of March took the Bangalow community by surprise; while the forecast had been for minimal rain, over 115mm of rain fell between 9am and 1pm… Read more: Flash floods hit town
Sometimes you meet young people who inspire hope that the world may land in safe hands after all. At just 14, Charlotte Burns already has a strongly developed sense of… Read more: A young voice for Bangalow
Greg ‘Nashy’ Nash has been running the ANZAC Day Two-Up School at the pub, the Bowlo, and now the Showgrounds, for more than two decades. Byron Leeworthy finds out more.