IT took a surfing wipeout and 150 stitches for Jack Johnson to take his music seriously, writes Georgina Bible.

HEADS were bared but unbowed on Saturday, as locals lined up to sacrifice their flowing locks to a worthy cause.

A SHAVE for a Cure fundraiser at Maclean set out with a modest aim of raising $500, but ended up with a grand total running into thousands.

SIX Big W colleagues are all determined to lose weight and win this year’s Clarence Valley Biggest Loser competition.

THE silver screen faded to black on Saturday night as the Byron Bay International Film Festival came to a close - but not before a colourful send-off party.

SOME of the region's 3000 artists may soon set up shopfronts in Lismore's CBD if a proposal to bring vibrancy and life back into the city goes ahead.

WITH a voice to rival the greatest soul divas of the past 50 years, it’s hard to believe that rock ’n’ roll was banned in the childhood home of Toni Childs.

WHEN Mackenzie Harvison was crowned the 2009 Jacaranda Queen, she didn't just win a title - she overcame her own fears.

FROM Mullumbimby to Maclean, cake decorators of all ages gather every second Saturday of the month to gain skills in a highly painstaking and intricate art.

BANGALOW Cheese Company is honoured to be asked but won’t be exporting cheese to France anytime soon.

CELEBRITY Chef Matt Moran has gone national with his love of Yamba Prawns after saying “if there’s a better prawn, I don’t know about it.”

FARMERS could soon be selling their produce directly to the people of the Lower Clarence on a weekly basis.

NORTH Coast cheese-maker Justin Telfer has been approached by a big player in the French market to consider exporting his prize-winning lines overseas.

INSTEAD of the traditional summer white, why not try one of the many red wine styles ideally suited to warm weather?

CASINO'S beef and Ballina's prawns are so good they are fit for a king-in-waiting.

SOME local farmers are celebrating a berry, berry good year.

The ocean is our blue backyard, and here's some of the amazing creatures that live there.

The best place to beat the heat of summer is at one of the Clarence Valley's public pools.

The Daily Examiner hit the sand of Minnie Water Beach to see how summer was treating the locals...

Evans Head enjoyed the high life when the massive air show took flight last weekend