25/08/2026
Byron Writers Festival pays tribute to Lynda Dean OAM, festival co-founder and lifelong board member.
It was a surreal and heartbreaking moment last weekend when, as our team gathered outside the packed Bay Street Stage for the festival finale, we received news that our beloved Lynda had passed.
Lynda was a larger-than-life figure with an endless capacity for joy and living, a formidable tenacity and powerful intellect. She was someone who built things and, as a philanthropist, worked tirelessly for her community. She knew many of our team and board members for all their lives.
As part of the festival’s 30th anniversary a session was presented in honour of Lynda whose health had prevented her from joining us in person if not in spirit. This year that session was the Good Witch, moderated by festival Chair Courtney Miller, covering Lucianne Tonti’s book of the same name.
With her passing, the festival will continue to honour Lynda with a named session each year in recognition of her legacy – and as a figure who embodied the spirit of the festival.
Lynda, who co-founded Byron Writers Festival alongside Chris Hanley once said the festival "came out of a need for cultural events in the region. There was a hunger to have cultural events happening here."
Speaking to The Echo earlier this year, Lynda traced its roots to the Aquarius Festival.
"[Aquarius] brought so many people here with different ways of thinking. The main underlying thrust of that thinking is, if I want something to happen, if I want my world to have culture in it, it’s up to me to get off my backside and make it happen."
We remember Lynda for making so many good things happen, and for sharing her vision, generosity, wise guidance – and especially, for her love of life.
Our team received the news of Lynda’s passing as the Big Voice Choir closed out the festival weekend with a performance by Goanna’s Shane Howard and Bundjalung singer Benja Roberts.
As the news broke, a rainbow appeared in the sky. It seemed fitting. Lynda would have wanted us dancing.
We will miss you, Lynda.
