Ballina Information Blog

  Ballina’s Barry Regan is a true saltwater man. The 78-year-old who has twice beaten leukaemia had his first surf at Curl Curl in Sydney in about 1943. These days he’s still surfing — and what’s more, he’s still making his own surfboards. But they’re not your usual foam and fibreglass boards: These boards are [...]

Southern Cross University has been awarded more than $900,000 from the Australian Research Council for research projects investigating climate change and coastal ecosystems. The Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Honourable Julie Bishop, announced the funding for the ARC Discovery and Linkage projects this week. Southern Cross University was awarded a total of $660,000 [...]

In a joint initiative between the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Department of Lands, three new wardens have been employed to protect pied oystercatcher chicks at South Ballina and Evans Head during this year’s breeding season. NPWS Richmond River Area Ranger Andrew Fay said that the new wardens, funded by the Department of [...]

Apologies for the late posting of this surf report — the computer has been in to see Doctor Geoff for a check-up! But you haven’t missed anything — yesterday was a beautiful offshore morning, but unfortunately the swell was as flat as the proverbial pancake. Today it’s still flat — it’s even too small to [...]

Musica Viva, Lismore is a local group of volunteers dedicated to bringing internationally and nationally renowned classical musicians to the Northern Rivers. They have joined forces with the local Mental Health Support Group to bring Australia’s leading flautist, Jane Rutter to Lismore for an exciting evening of fine music and entertainment. Proceeds from this concert [...]

Expressions of interest have been invited from all Landcare, Wildlife, bushland-friendly nurseries, surfing and other coastal organisations and individuals to participate in the first Weedbusters Field Day to be held on Sunday, October 28, from 10am until 3pm on the western side of the surf club at Shelly Beach, East Ballina. It is being run [...]

Police are urging Year 12 school students planning ‘muck-up day pranks’ to consider the consequences of their actions. NSW Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Bob May said that while pranks were often a feature of end-of-year festivities, students need to make sure it doesn’t get out of hand. “Pranks leading to community distress, damage or panic [...]

Trophies, photographs, uniforms and a variety of other memorabilia highlighting the achievements of Indigenous sports players will go on display at the Richmond River Historical Society on Friday. The exhibition ‘Goories Playing Sports’ has been put together by Southern Cross University and the Society to coincide with the NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout Carnival in [...]

It’s that time of year, when Ballina Shire Council hosts Ballina Bike Sunday as part of NSW Bike Week — and just by participating, you could win a new bike. The council says that Bike Week events seek to encourage participation in cycling as an enjoyable, low cost, healthy and environmentally friendly transport alternative, particularly [...]

Last Saturday night’s thunderstorm across the Ballina Shire region gave us an early reminder that it’s storm time, and Country Energy is reminding people that the warmer weather of spring heralds the start of the severe thunderstorm season. Each year, on average, severe thunderstorms are responsible for more damage (as measured by insurance costs) than [...]