Byron Community Spirit Shines at Bayleaf Café’s ‘Raffle with Heart’
Bayleaf Café and Byron businesses unite to honour 130 years of connection, culture and community spirit.
The Byron community is set to gather for an evening of celebration, art and generosity with Raffle with Heart hosted by Bayleaf owners Tom and Dani Popovic at Bayleaf Café, part of the Byron Community Centre’s 130 Years of Community Spirit festivities.
Hosted by Bayleaf Café on Friday 5 September, the event will bring together cocktails, tapas and live community energy, with a raffle brimming with prizes from much-loved local businesses including Patagonia, Byron Bay Candles, Blue Safari, Stone & Wood, Crystal Castle, Mister Zimi, Spell, Loco Love, Jilly Wines, The Smoking Camel, and many more.
Adding to the celebrations is the vibrant 130 Years of Community Spirit mural by local artist and Byron Markets stallholder Valentina Di Blase, unveiled on Bayleaf’s mural wall.
The event is also the official opening for Jan Rae’s current exhibition at Bayleaf, showcasing her stunning Byron Cafe Society paintings and Byron Hinterland series. Together, the works form a rich visual ode to the Byron cafe culture, landscapes and our community spirit.
Jan was one of the three original artists behind the iconic Byron Community Centre façade mural in 1984, and her work continues to inspire today. She is generously donating an original painting, “Beach Track” (2024), in Bayleaf’s Raffle with Heart.
Bayleaf owners Tom and Dani Popovic said being part of the celebrations felt like a natural extension of Bayleaf Café’s community values.
“Bayleaf has always believed in supporting local spirit in meaningful ways. Hosting the raffle and opening our wall to Valentina’s mural felt like a natural way we could contribute not only to the local community, but to support the amazing Byron Community Centre. It’s about celebrating the creativity and generosity that makes Byron so special.”
For the Byron Community Centre, the support of Bayleaf and other businesses has been a powerful reminder of what makes Byron unique. Relationships Manager Bec Robinson said the event captures the spirit of the town.
“We are so grateful to Bayleaf and all the wonderful local businesses who’ve stepped forward to support the raffle. The funds raised will help us continue the cultural and social services, events and programs we provide. It’s such a joy to see the whole community come together in celebration of this milestone.”
The building at 69 Jonson Street has long been at the heart of Byron’s cultural and social life. It began as the Byron Bay School of Arts in 1895 and later became the Byron Bay Literary Institute in 1913. Over the decades it has housed a library, skating rink and Byron’s first silent movie theatre.
In the early 1980s it was reborn as the Byron Community Centre, thanks to an incredible group of passionate and dedicated locals, led by Jan Dawkins. It grew to include Byron Markets (1987), Byron Theatre (2003), Byron Spaces (2010s), Byron Seniors Club (2025), and much more. Today, supported by more than 250 volunteers, the community centre continues to thrive.
The Raffle with Heart will be drawn at Bayleaf Café on Friday 5 September, with every ticket sold directly supporting the Byron Community Centre and its ongoing programs that provide essential services, inclusive activities and inspiring events for the whole community.
Bayleaf Café ‘Raffle With Heart’
When: Friday 5 September 2025
Time: 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Where: Bayleaf Café, 2A Marvell Street, Byron Bay
Entry: Free, raffle tickets available at Bayleaf Café or online
Tickets are available now at Bayleaf Café and online at www.bayleafbyronbay.com.
Raffle Sponsors
Bare Body Beauty, Blackboard, Blue Safari, Byron Bay Candles, Byron Bay Cookies, Crystal Castle, Imbibe, Jan Rae Artwork, Jilly Wines, Light Years, Loco Love, Mister Zimi, Moonlight, No Bones, Ottway, Patagonia, Pixie, Rowie, Skin Divinity, Social Remedy, Spell, Stone & Wood, Superfeast, The Smoking Camel
130 Years of Community Spirit
The 130 Years of Community Spirit celebrations pay tribute to the unique strength and generosity of Byron Bay’s community. For more than a century, locals have come together to create spaces that connect, uplift and support, from arts and culture to social services and volunteerism. It’s a year to reflect on a proud history of creativity and care, while celebrating the spirit of connection that continues to shape the community today.
Valentina di Blase (ValeVale Art)
Valentina’s mural at Bayleaf forms part of a series of artistic contributions marking the 130 Years of Community Spirit celebrations, including her solo exhibition Magic Birds of Australia currently on display at the newly launched Byron Spaces Gallery, upstairs at the Byron Community Centre.
About Byron Community Centre
The Byron Community Centre is an independent charity and not-for-profit that improves the social and cultural wellbeing of the community through essential services, inclusive activities and inspiring events.
Byron Markets | Byron Theatre | Byron Spaces | Byron Volunteering | Fletcher Street Cottage | Byron Seniors Club
For more information, please see www.byroncentre.com.au.
A Short History (69 Jonson St)
1895: Byron Bay School of Arts
1913: Byron Bay Literary Institute
1980: Byron Community Centre (Mural in 1984)