Ballina Information Blog

This Sunday Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter holds its biggest annual fundraising appeal, and volunteer collectors are needed.
On Sunday, August 30, volunteer collectors will hit the streets in towns throughout the northern region, with an overall fundraising target of $150,000.
Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter General Manager Kris Beavis thanked the northern region community for its support [...]

The Pied Oystercatcher protection program at South Ballina is to get a boost with funding provided by the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (NRCMA) for fox baiting on private lands.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Ranger, Holly North, said that the effectiveness of the program is greatly improved with a co-operative approach to fox control [...]

Ballina Shire schools are among those in the Page electorate to receive laptop computers in the latest roll out of the Rudd Government’s Digital Revolution.
Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, has welcomed the delivery of 655 laptops to six local high schools in Page.
The laptops are being delivered under the $2.1 billion National Secondary School Computer [...]

There’s a big day of rugby union ahead in Ballina on Saturday, when Ballina Shire teams contest all grades of the Far North Coast major semi-finals.
In first grade, minor premiers Ballina take on Lismore.
In second grade, it’s a Ballina Shire local derby, with Ballina and Lennox Head clashing.
Wollongbar-Alstonville will fly the shire flag in Under-19s, [...]

If you’re in the Alstonville region this weekend, pop in to the Quota International of Alstonville-Wollongbar’s annual Art & Craft fair, which is being held on Saturday and Sunday, 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 [...]

Ballina now has a ratepayers association, following the formation this week of the Ballina District Citizens and Ratepayers Association.
Ralph Moss, the man who instigated the group’s formation, is the inaugural president.
Other office bearers are: vice-president Ken Silva, secretary Ian Ward, treasurer John Abbott, publicity officer Ed Standfield.
Mr Standfield, a lifelong Ballina resident, called on Ballina [...]

Cash-strapped Ballina Shire community organisations take note: the Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF) has just announced its 2009 Grants Round, and is inviting applications.
The Chairman of the NRCF’s Grants Committee, George Lewin, said he was pleased to report that this year the NRCF had something like $24,000 to distribute to worthwhile projects.
“Given that most charities [...]

Anyone who has ever accessed Lennox Point in wet weather will welcome the news that the upgrade of the surfers’ steps at the Point is now well under way.
The construction of stairs to replace the existing surfers’ track will provide all-weather access for the surfing community to the popular Lennox Point surf break within the [...]

This Sunday’s Lennox Head Market has been moved to the main street for this Sunday, August 30, and Ballina Shire Council will canvass residents to determine whether the move should be permanent.
The change in venue has come about after heavy rainfall affected the normal venue at Lake Ainsworth.
“While it has been some weeks since the [...]

The Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce AGM was held last week with two new faces on the management committee.
Second-term President Louise Owen welcomed Dave Hirst from Rescuetech and Joni Teal, Lennox Lakeside Markets co-ordinator to the team, as well as incumbents Rob Stutfield from Telstra Shop Ballina (vice-president), Leisa Hawkey from TURSA (secretary), Katrina Phillips [...]