Festival Record, Liver Clinic and Women’s Space

29th June – 10th July 2026

At Fletcher Street Cottage, we celebrated community generosity, strengthened important partnerships and continued expanding the range of services available to people experiencing hardship. Here's a snapshot of what happened.

Photo credit: Jeff Dawson, The Echo

Highlights

• A warm welcome to our volunteers Roz and Sue, who recently began their new roles as Welcome Workers. Often the first friendly faces people see when they arrive, Welcome Workers help participants feel at ease while assisting with appointments and the daily flow of our services. Volunteers remain the backbone of Fletcher Street Cottage, making our work possible every day.
• We were grateful to welcome Nick, a volunteer podiatrist, who generously donated his time and expertise to help participants improve their health and wellbeing through essential foot care.
• Our team met with Moo from The Buttery, who shared information about the organisation's wide range of programs beyond its well-known residential service. Partnerships like these strengthen our referral pathways and help ensure participants can access the most appropriate support for their individual needs.
• Women’s Space continues to flourish, growing into a trusted and welcoming community where women can build friendships, access specialised support and find a safe place to connect, heal and grow.
• A big thank you to Amrita's Pantry, who once again prepared a delicious breakfast for everyone on Wednesday. Community groups like Amrita's Pantry bring warmth, generosity and connection to Fletcher Street Cottage while helping provide nourishing meals for those who need them most.
• This week we welcomed the Liver Clinic and members of the Needle and Syringe Program, who provided hepatitis information and testing for participants. Their work supports the national goal of eliminating hepatitis by 2028 and ensures people can access important preventative health care in a trusted environment.
• We were thrilled to celebrate the incredible success of this year's Festival of the Stone, which raised a record $30,419 for Fletcher Street Cottage. We are enormously grateful to Stone & Wood, the InGrained Foundation and everyone who attended, donated and supported the event. These funds will help us continue providing essential services for our community.
• Representatives from the Justice and Equity Centre's Homeless Persons' Legal Service visited Fletcher Street Cottage alongside StreetCare, speaking with participants about their experiences navigating the legal system. Listening to people with lived experience helps inform better housing and homelessness policy while ensuring community voices are heard.

‍About Fletcher Street Cottage

Fletcher Street Cottage is a community hub in the heart of Byron Bay, providing essential support for locals in need. Our services include nutritious meals, access to showers and laundry, advocacy, health and wellbeing programs, and creative initiatives like Women’s Space and Art Space, all designed to help people move toward stability and self sufficiency. With the support of our volunteers, partners and donors, we continue to make a difference every day.