Ballina Information Blog

Did any Ballina Shire whale-watchers see Migaloo the white whale pass by this week? If so, Ballin Info would love to hear of your experience.

Migaloo was sighted off Evans Head on Tuesday and Burleigh Heads on Wednesday.

It was off Ballina in October 2004 that Migaloo was genetically identified by Southern Cross University (SCU) researchers as a male.

During surveys of the Ballina Whale Research Project in October 2004, SCU researcher Dan Burns and his team obtained sloughed skin samples of Migaloo as he passed Ballina, on his return journey to the Antarctic.

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Australian Seabird Rescue  is inviting new and existing members to attend a marine wildlife rescue workshop on Saturday July 11, at ASR headquarters on North Creek Road, Ballina.

There will be discussions on the present issues for marine turtles and coastal birds as well as procedures on what to look for and how to help and safely handle sick or injured marine wildlife.

The workshop will run from 8:30am to 4:00pm. There will be a fee of $30 for non-members and $20 for members, which will cover the cost of handbooks, lunch, morning and afternoon tea.

ASR general manager Rochelle Ferris says these courses sell out early and seats are limited, so book now.

• SATURDAY, JULY 11,  9 am - 4.30 pm
• At: Ballina - ASR Marine Wildlife Rescue Centre, end of North Creek Rd (off Pacific Highway as it heads out of Ballina towards Bangalow)
• Cost: $30 - includes lunch and all refreshments and manuals. $20 for ASR members (new members can join for $30)
• Registration closes: no later than Wed. July 8, admin@seabirdrescue.org or phone 66 862 852 (office hours Mon-Fri 9-4).

They guard our beaches without fanfare, so it’s nice when our lifesavers get some recognition.

And here in Ballina Shire, our two clubs — Ballina Lighthouse and Lismore, and Lennox Head-Alstonville — have many dedicated members.

The quality of the service they provide was hiighted ghat the recent Far North Coast Awards of Excellence held at Yamba, when members of both clubs were honoured.

Heading the list was Lennox Head-Alstonville’s Tanyn Lyndon (pictured), who won a third successive Male Athlete of the Year award.

A summary of local winners is:

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Member for Ballina Don Page and Member for Lismore Thomas George have engaged in a campaign to increase people’s awareness of the current whooping cough epidemic and the importance of being immunised.

Mr Page and Mr George are encouraging all parents to vaccinate their children (after two months of age) and adults to get a booster.

Mr Page recently raised this issue in the NSW Parliament highlighting the whooping cough epidemic on the North Coast of NSW.

This follows the tragic death of Lennox Head baby Dana McCaffery at four weeks of age from Pertussis (Whooping Cough).

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Quota International of Alstonville-Wollongbar’s annual Art & Craft fair is on again on August 29 and 30 at the Alstonville Leisure and Entertainment Centre.

This is the premier fundraiser for Quota International of Alstonville-Wollongbar and all proceeds assist local charities and Quota projects.

Over $90,000 has been distributed to groups in need over the past six years.

The Quota ladies are busy putting together this event and have again managed to find the best craft people with the newest and most exciting products to sell. 

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The annual fox baiting program is about to commence on the North Coast from South Wall at Ballina to approximately 6.5km south of the Black Rocks Camping Area in Bundjalung National Park.

1080 baits will be laid in the coastal area between the Richmond River and 10 Mile Beach in Bundjalung National Park from 6th July to 18th December 2009.

The program, a joint initiative of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Department of Lands and North Coast Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA), has been successful in increasing fledgling numbers of one of the most significant bird populations in the area, the Pied Oystercatcher(pictured).

NPWS Ranger, Holly North, said it is important that people only take their dogs to areas that are designated dog exercise areas. 1080 baits will not be laid in or in the vicinity of these dog exercise areas to ensure responsible pet owners are able to exercise their dogs safely.

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NAIDOC Week will again be celebrated in the Ballina Shire this year. Celebrations will be held between Sunday 5 July and Sunday 12 July.

NAIDOC Week is recognised nationally as a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and an opportunity to recognise the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in various fields.

The theme for NAIDOC Week in 2009 is Honouring Our Elders, Nurturing Our Youth.

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With prizemoney set at $6500, artists are eagerly awaiting the announcement of the National Parks and Wildlife Service Aboriginal art award which will take place on Saturday 4 July, 2009 at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery in Ballina.

This is the first time this prestigious award has been held at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery in Ballina and as such is a much-anticipated event.

“Highly respected curator and fine arts researcher Tess Allas will judge this year’s ‘Connections’ award,” said Kerrie Metzler, Senior Ranger Community Relations for the National Parks and Wildlife Services.

“Judging an art award is always a difficult task and Tess’s job will be no exception with strong entries expected for numerous categories, including the $3000 Open first prize.”

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Ballina Shire is one of seven Northern Rivers councils which have received a grant of $2 million from the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change for a regional food-focused project known as the Northern Rivers Food Links.

The project will look at sustainable practices and linkages in food production, distribution, consumption and waste management.

Officially launched last week at Southern Cross University Lismore, the Northern Rivers Food Links project aims to protect urban communities from the social and environmental impacts of climate change by developing collaborative approaches to sustainable food systems in the region.

Free community consultation sessions will be held at:

Tweed Shire, Murwillumbah, Murwillumbah RSL Club, Woolumbin Room, 29th June 5pm – 6.30pm
Ballina Shire ,Ballina Richmond Room, Regatta Ave,  30th June 12.30pm - 2pm
Lismore City, Lismore, Lismore City Hall, Fountain Room, 30th June 4pm - 5.30pm
Kyogle, Kyogle KMI, Supper Room, 1st July, 10am – 11.30am
Richmond Valley, Casino, RSM Club, Jupiter Room, 1st July, 3pm – 4.30pm
Clarence Valley, Grafton, Grafton Community & Function Centre Green Room, 2nd July, 1pm – 2.30pm
Byron Shire, Mullumbimby, Council Conference Room, 3rd July, 1pm - 2.30pm
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Do you have rabbits in your part of Ballina Shire?

If so, Ballina Council wants to hear from you.

Ballina Shire residents are being encouraged to join a national challenge to record data about rabbits, from at least 5000 sites across Australia.

RabbitScan and Ballina Shire Council are encouraging individuals and groups in the Ballina Shire area to help scientists map rabbit populations by scanning their local area for rabbits and signs of their damage, and adding that to a Google Map on RabbitScan’s website.

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