Best of 2020: The most heartwarming stories of the year
From fundraising efforts to community awards to inspirational tales, see the special moments we witnessed in 2020.
Lismore
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This year has been a harder year than most and after witnessing bushfires, floods and a pandemic, you might be asking what went right in 2020?
At The Northern Star and Tweed Daily News, we have dug through our story archives to bring you some of the most heart-warming stories we covered this year.
Children sold their mangoes to help koalas
What do you do with an excess of mangoes? Sell them of course.
This brother and sister duo teamed up to help the devestated Koala population through their sales.
SEE MORE: Sibling act helps save local koala population
Chris Hemsworth gave $1m to bushfire appeal
Easily the most well known Byron Bay celebrity, Chris Hemsworth features in the news around these parts a lot.
Most of that coverage focuses on his day-to-day life but he's also extremely giving and put his money where his mouth is when Australia needed it most.
SEE MORE: Hemsworth chips in one million to help the bushfire efforts.
Fireys' valiant acts recognised in ceremony
2020 has unearthed some truly exceptional heroes and at the start of the year no one was more important than our firefighters.
The Rural Fire Service's Far North Coast senior management team were one of just five units across the state to receive the Commissioner's Certificate of Commendation..
SEE MORE: Fireys fantastic services recognised in state awards.
A mystery person gifted flowers to Lismore businesses
Rumours were rife as to who was the mysterious flower donor, giving business a small token of appreciation for their efforts during COVID-19.
SEE MORE: Who is Lismore's mystery flower donor?
Sam the man and his driveway band
It is fair to say we've all missed a little bit of live music this year.
Gigs were cancelled, festivals were scrapped and muscians were left wondering what on earth to do.
The Terranora community came together to bring the music back into this man's life.
SEE MORE: Sam, a ragtag band and the Driveway Jam
An anonymous woman gave coffee vouchers to people waiting in Centrelink queue
In th hardest of times, it is often the small things that can mean the most to others.
Earlier this year, when many people lost their job due to COVID-19, an anoymous woman bought everyone at Brunswick Centrelink a coffee.
SEE MORE: How a random stranger brightened everyone's day
Tumbulgum thanked their frontline heroes
It may be a tiny tower but it possesses an incredible spirit which was on display in this incredible tribute to frontline workers.
SEE MORE: Tumbulgum's touching tribute to workers.
A humble local hero, aged 14, saved four men
Saving the life of one person is incredible, saving four people defies belief.
If there is one story you read today, make it this one about Clayton Schilg, Tweed Heads humble hero.
SEE MORE: The emotional reunion which will leave you in tears.
Bushfire heroes answered the call
Everyone talks about the Australian Spirit, how we get stuck in and get the job done.
These brave firefighters are examples of that with their work during the terrible fires.
SEE MORE: Our Firefighting heroes
How a community garden inspired a lifetime of friendship
Two friends decided to turn the garden near their local flats from a eyesore to a garden masterpiece.
This is one of the most aesthically pleasing things you'll read today.
SEE MORE: Two friends, one garden and a beautiful friendship
Tweed reduced and recycled for mega dollars
Reduce, reuse, recycle ... and earn a couple million dollars?
That is what Tweed Shire has achieved since they bought in Recycle and Earn bins two years ago. The final figure will stagger you.
SEE MORE: Tweed's multi-million recycle scheme
A Tweed resident turned personal pain into collective gain
Natasha Seneviratne lost her dad tragically to a stroke but her immense fundraising efforts have made the local community proud.
This is one incredible story from one incredible person.
SEE MORE: 'I love you Dad': Tragic death drives mum to national award
A teacher and student's inseperable bond
Mariana Lennert was devestated to find out that one of her star students had cancer and decided to help in anyway she could.
Her fundraiser helped this suffering family and bought the community together.
SEE MORE: tHe inspirational story behind the upcoming fundraiser.
Nina Clarke's incredible fundraising effort
At four years old, Nina Clarke raised thousands of dollars for cancer sufferers through the world's greatest shave.
The Canberra Raiders super-fan has been doing some incredible work.
SEE MORE: 4 year old Canberra Raiders super fan raises thousands
Police touched by stranger's act of kindness
The entire police force was grieving after a road traffic accident claimed the lives of four respected Victorian Police officers.
'Trev' showed his appreciation for all the police do for us.
SEE MORE: An act of kindness for the boys in blue.
Chindy's golden hero
How do you like your coffee? Served in a golden bodysuit?
That was what the Cubby Bakehouse in Chinderah did to raise the spirits of the community earlier this year.
SEE MORE: Flat white with a side of golden bodysuit in Chinderah
One wheely-good reason to raise funds for cancer
Riding on two wheels can be hard enough, but Stephanie Schulz took the challenge to ride 120km over 30 days.
The catch: she did it on a unicycle.
SEE MORE: One wheely-good fundraiser
From darkness to paradise, one smashing story.
You may not know the name of Brian Simpson but you have to read his story. A squash champion who battled mental illness found paradise in Lismore.
SEE MORE: One squash player's journey from the darkness to paradise.
One mum's mission to bring back Christmas
This mum wanted to get away from the Playstations and iPhones that were getting given at Christmas.
She designed these calendars to help her kids find the true meaning of the festive season.
SEE MORE: Mum helps rediscover the meaning of Christmas
A local business went above and beyond to help those in need
At a time when many other businesses were thinking about how to stay viable during the pandemic,
Unplugged Games was focused on helping the silent sufferers in our community. The response: They crushed their fundraising target.
SEE MORE: How one business obliterated their fundraising target
Come on Eileen!
Eileen Darragh's family were flat when the couldn't spend her 100th birthday with her.
So they and the local community got together to make it a memorable day.
SEE MORE: 100 birthday cards for 100 years.
Meet Byron's 'legend'arborist
This recent storms wrecked havoc across the Northern Rivers with many trees shaken from their roots.
Meet the legend who helped people out of their tree troubles for free.
SEE MORE: Byron's 'legend' tree expert
45 years not out in the workforce for Alan Walsh
A lot can happen in 45 years, especially when you've been at the same company for 45 years. See how they celebrated this 'rare' milestone for Alan Walsh.
SEE MORE: 45 years, one company.
Bring music to the masses
We all missed live music this year but Lismore Symphony Orchestra bought it into our homes via livestreams.
See how they went about creating the virtual concerts.
SEE MORE: A night at the orchestra virtually
18 years, one family, one bloody amazing documentary
This is a simply beautiful documentary which documents the journey over 18 years for a Lennox Head family.
See how it all came about in this piece.
SEE MORE: 18 years, one family, one bloody amazing documentary
Seaside spat: Free campers ordered to pack up and prance on
Free-campers at a popular northern NSW beach have sprayed investigators after receiving a one-month notice to pack up their “unauthorised” dwellings and leave. See the wild video.
Legal costs awarded to crash death accused after trial delayed
A man claiming he suffered a covid blackout behind the wheel before the road death of a northern NSW farmer has been awarded legal costs due to ongoing delays ahead of his trial.