Ballina Information Blog

Organisers of the Beats on the Beach concert say the event will return to Ballina in 2009.
The concert was held for the first time on New Year’s Day this year and a second event was scheduled for 2008.
However, the organisers, Heapsaflash Media, have announced the cancellation of the 2008 concert.
They have cited concerns with restrictions […]

With the summer holiday season upon us, The Cancer Council NSW is aiming to dispel the myths around skin cancer. While most Australians are aware of the Slip, Slop, Slap message, there are still some common misconceptions regarding skin cancer out there.
“The Cancer Council NSW Helpline receives around 4000 calls each year related to skin […]

‘Don’t panic’ is the advice to school leavers who will this week receive their Higher School Certificate results and UAI (Universities Admission Index).
Peter Barnard, Southern Cross University Admissions Manager, said there were a range of options for students, even if they didn’t receive the UAI they were hoping for.
Southern Cross University has established a website […]

Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop says whiting have been very good around Pimlico Island on bloodworms and there are a few around the sailing club and in North Creek at night.
Quite a few flatties on plastics in the lower reaches and a few blackfish around the walls.
The jewfish around the walls and in the lower […]

Detectives are investigating an armed hold-up at a credit union in Ballina yesterday.
About 3.25pm, witnessed have told police a man armed with a handgun entered the financial institution in a shopping centre in Ballina and demanded money from staff.
An amount of money was handed over before the man ran from the shopping centre and got […]

A new education fund designed to help financially disadvantaged students go to university has been established by the Northern Rivers Community Foundation and Southern Cross University.
The endowed fund has been established following donations of $25,000 each from local businessman Dr Peter Bowen and his wife Julianne, and Southern Cross University.
Investment income from the Southern Cross […]

Shadow Minister for Small Business and Ballina MP Don Page has introduced private members legislation into Parliament designed to protect a property owners’ equity when they are sold up by financiers because they can’t make their mortgage repayments.
Mr Page said his legislation will impose a higher duty of care on the mortgagee in possession (financier), […]

Southerly winds late this week have brought some welcome relief from the heat and humidity, but haven’t done a great deal for the surf.
Today there’s an easterly swell of about 4 foot, but it’s being chopped up by the southerly.
Hopefully conditions will clean up for the weekend.
Best places would be the protected headlands.

Coastal pollution, Japanese whaling, climate change, sustainable forestry and resource management will be among the topics up for discussion when the new Member for Page meets with Southern Cross University researchers at the Lismore campus tomorrow (December 14).
Janelle Saffin will receive a briefing on a range of environmental issues impacting on the North Coast from […]

An update to our report last week that the North Melbourne AFL club would hold coaching clinics in Ballina: The Roos decision to reject a proposed move to the Gold Coast means they’re not coming.
But in their place will be the mighty Essendon Bombers!
Essendon Football Club announced this week that they will head to Queensland […]