At a gathering of almost 170 Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter volunteers from all over northern NSW, Betty was presented with her 20-year service badge.

The presentation was made at the helicopter volunteers’ Christmas lunch at the Lismore Helibase. In all, 80 badges were presented, ranging from five years service to 25 years service.

Mrs Reynolds said she was devoted to the rescue helicopter because it played an important part in saving lives of people ill and injured on the Northern Rivers.

“I started volunteering for the rescue helicopter because I lived next door to the chief pilot at the time and I knew the then general manager, Perry Wells,” Mrs Reynolds said.

“I continue to volunteer because I love it and it’s important for the community to have the helicopter remain here in the northern region.”

Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter general manager Kris Beavis said the rescue helicopter service would struggle to exist if it wasn’t for the on-going support of the hundreds of volunteers from across the helicopter’s flight area.

“Volunteers like Betty Reynolds are essential to the continuation of the rescue helicopter,” Mr Beavis said.

“Their tireless efforts provide this organisation with a valuable human resource and it’s an absolute pleasure to be present these selfless volunteers with their awards today.”

Two other Ballina volunteers also received long-service awards. Vera Stalker received her 10-year badge and Sharon Cadwallader received her five-year badge.

Dan’s love of music began at the tender age of 9 years old learning the organ and playing for quiet, conservative church services.

Now a pub rocker, Dan regularly performs at Ballina and Northern Rivers pubs and venues.

Dan’s parents and younger sister still live in the Ballina.

He arrived back on the Gold Coast this week from Melbourne where he performed for some of the biggest names in the music industry.
 
Dan was invited to Melbourne to attend the the Dream Inc music workshops held at Melbourne Town Hall.

Lynn Jaanz, a singing teacher who has worked with successful recording artists such as Delta Goodrem, saw Dan performing his original music at a Gold Coast restaurant a few months back and encouraged him to attend.

Jaanz told Dan she believed he has what it takes to make his dream of becoming an international singer a reality. Record companies would be on the lookout for new talent at the workshops.
 
It turns out the record label representatives agreed. Even rockstar Stu Macleod of band Eskimo Joe gave Dan his vote.
Dan was named the winner of a Sony Development Deal at the one-day Rock workshop. He was awarded the deal by head of SONY A&R Ross Fraser before TV cameras, famous faces and the hundreds of workshop participants.
 
The man who discovered and signed Madonna, music business executive Seymour Stein is widely regarded as having the best ears in the business when it comes to discovering new talent.

Stein commented on Dan’s talent when he won the award, saying that Dan’s songwriting reminded him of country music legend Hank Williams.

On being interviewed by the record label panel, Dan spoke of his musical influences as being Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and John Fogerty from Credence Clearwater Revival. “That guy just wrote hit after hit song” Dan said.

In response Stein noted ‘yeah John’s a Good friend of mine’.
 
Dan will gain invaluable experience and contacts and will now be flown to Sydney to record with some of the best in the business at Sony Studios. He will work with top A&R reps over a week-long period to produce a professional demo to further his career.
 
“I’m so stoked and grateful,” Dan said.

“This sort of thing just doesn’t happen everyday; it’s a huge break for me.

“I don’t think I’m the greatest singer. I can write songs but my songs are pretty raw. I think they liked that. They liked my rough edges, which is cool.

“I guess I stood out because I was different from the highly-trained voices. There were some amazing singers there.”
 
Catch Dan Hannaford when he returns to Ballina next month to play The Australian Hotel on October 30.

All shop and buisness owners will decorate shop fronts to raise awarness for the up coming Relay for Life that will be held in November Saturday 7th-8th at Kingsford Smith Park Ballina.

Relay For Life is an event where teams of 10 to 15 people take turns walking or running around oval at Kingsford Smith Park to raise funds for cancer research, education, support services and advocacy. The relay is for young and old. You can walk or run, and do as many or as little laps as you like.

The committee will be setting up an information table through the week 21st-27th of September to answer any questions, sign up teams and get the word out about the Relay For Life event.

Any further questions please contact Dee on the following: 0405 324 319 or email mydeebee@yahoo.com.au

After the roundabout was completed, this sign was erected showing Condon Drive to be the name of the street entering the new estate. Now the name has been taped over, and we’re curious as to why this has happened. This has started a few conversations as everyone has their own theory. We’d love to hear from anyone who knows what’s happened to Condon Drive, please leave a comment below.

IGA’s Community Chest Unsung Heroes Awards aims to recognise and reward individuals who go the extra mile to assist their local organisation, volunteer time to a charity or achieve extraordinary success despite life’s hurdles.

Jenny Tunks has been fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis NSW for more than 30 years, helping raise much-needed funds that are used for medical research and to support sufferers and their families.

Amongst other raffles, Jenny co-ordinates a guitar raffle the East Coast Blues & Roots Festival each year. This is a five-day event that operates over Easter, and to date Jenny has raised $150,000 from this raffle alone.

Jenny is always coming up with new ways to raise money, and is currently working on creating a ‘65 Roses Patchwork Quilt’ which will be auctioned off for the charity.

She has a 31-year-old son who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis, and plans to continue her charity work until a cure is found. Her selfless contribution over so many years makes Jenny a true ‘Unsung Hero’.

Jenny will be awarded with $250 worth of IGA vouchers and a $250 cash donation will also be given to Cystic Fibrosis NSW, Jenny’s nominated charity/not-for-profit organisation.

Regional winners are now in the running to take out the State prize, which is decided by an online public vote. The State winner’s chosen charity or not-for-profit organisation will then be awarded a further $5000 donation. 

The 2009 IGA Community Chest Unsung Awards project gave local residents the chance to reward the ‘Unsung Heroes’ living in their neighbourhoods through an online nomination process. 

Get behind Jenny simply by logging onto www.iga.com.au before Friday 28 August and voting!

You can also show your support for Jenny by logging onto Facebook and joining the 2009 IGA Community Chest Unsung Heroes Awards’ Group.

Jenny Tunks is classified as a Queensland award winner as all regional winners were selected in accordance with IGA’s own ‘village network’ – the local business units which work together to meet the needs of their local customers.

Croozin' for a Snoozin'

Local funky kids t-shirt label, Pram Rock, is being showcased this Friday 31 July at the Kids Fashion Review Media Night in Melbourne. Pram Rock will be alongside other Australasian labels such as OUCH, Nanny Pickle, Agoo Australia and Pipi Child.

Owned and operated by Lennox Head locals Matt and Danielle Parmenter, Pram Rock has only been up and running for a year, so this is a great opportunity for media and PR coverage. Melbourne will be bursting at the seams with retailers and media for the Kids in Style premier trade event.

To view the whole range, go to Pram Rock funky baby tshirts or pop in to Echidna Place children’s wear 6/32 Byron Street, Bangalow, where most of the range is stocked (but selling fast!).

Great to see a local online business mixing it with the big names!

From 1966-72 Bob worked in Government administration in Papua New Guinea and it was during this time that he joined the Madang Lions Club.

Returning to Australia, he became a member  of the Blacktown club and on his arrival in Ballina joined East Ballina Lions.

Bob has been honoured with life membership of Lions International and with many of the Lions prestigious awards.

Bob is well-known to the Ballina community as he is consistently and cheerily seen manning the barbecue or selling raffle tickets to raise money to be used for a good cause.

On Australia Day 2005 he was the recipient of the Ballina Citizen of the Year Award.

The recognition came last weekend when East Ballina Lions Club were hosts to 100 members of the Lions organisation for a two-day meeting of the Lions District Governor and members of his Cabinet. 

Cabinet  members and their partners braved the weather to travel to Ballina, many from Brisbane and south-east Queensland, for the meetings that were held at Southern Cross School K-12. 

On Saturday evening  a social dinner was held at the Ballina RSL Club and when meetings recommenced for Cabinet members on Sunday morning  the Lions partners enjoyed a coach trip to the Seabird Rescue Centre and the Ballina Art Gallery.

PICTURE: Lion Bob Morgan being congratulated by Lions District Governor John McCrae.

Peter and Brock

Alstonville boy Brock Curtis-Mathew is off to Government House in Sydney on December 9th to receive a Bravery Award from the Governor of New South Wales, Professor Marie Bashir.

Brock was nominated for the award by Royal Lifesaving Society after swimming to his best mate, Peter Edmonds and bringing him to shore following a fatal shark attack while the mates were surfing at Lighthouse Beach, Ballina on Tuesday morning 8th April this year.

This has been a very difficult time for Brock and his family, with Brock’s father, Darran Curtis, passing away recently on 4th November after a long battle with cancer. Brock, 16 lives with his mother, Victoria Mathew, his sister Bonnie and three brothers, Blake, Torie and Charlie.
Rex Airlines have kindly donated the airfares for Brock, his mother Victoria and Peter Edmonds’ mother Lisa to attend the award ceremony.

* Brock was also named this week by Who Weekly as one of Australia’s Most Outstanding People.

Treudie Kaehler - Award Winner

Treudie Kaehler of Flowers in Paradise in River Street with her North Coast Local Business Award presented to her recently for the ‘The Most Outstanding Florist’ in the region.

As well as capturing the judge’s votes, Ballina residents have known for over 37 years of Treudie’s floristry expertise and downtown shoppers have always admired Treudie’s shop as the decorations follow the seasons and holidays.

Christmas Cheer in River Street

Her Christmas trees are all up and beautifully decorated with delightful treasures including some special glass ornaments so call in and congratulate her on her recent award and you will be sure to find some great Christmas gift ideas as well.

As Treudie says, ‘Flowers are still one of the cheapest Christmas presents.’

Australian Seabird Rescue

The award is also dedicated to her late partner and ASR co-founder Lance Ferris, who passed away in October 2007.

IFAW Asia Pacific Director Erica Martin presented the award today at the Ballina headquarters of ASR as part of Animal Action Week.

Marny said she was ‘very honoured and humbled’ to receive such an award.

Reflecting on when she and Lance Ferris set up ASR, Marny said: “We had many detractors who thought we were stark raving mad, but IFAW supported us.”

Fighting back tears, she told how in 1992 as a 39-year-old, she first met Lance.

“He started talking to me about pelicans,” she said.

“Lance had rescued 19 pelicans, but he said ‘it’s a really big problem — there’s another 20 pelicans to be rescued’.

“Our first date was in a boat going to the sand cay in the Richmond River, where Lance’s ashes are now scattered.

“There was an injured pelican there that had hooks in its leg and chest. It was tangled in fishing line, and every time it tried to move, the line dug the hooks further in.

“We removed the hooks and line, and the bird soared.

“I knew then that I had made a difference.”

As well as rescuing injured wildlife, Marny and Lance battled hard to establish ASR and to educate people on the threats to wildlife.

“It’s been a long, hard road, sometimes at great personal cost,” Marny said.

“A year ago I lost my soul-mate. The past year has been one of deepest reflection for me.”

Marny thanked all who had supported ASR, and praised the efforts of Lance’s daughter Rochelle, who continues her father’s work.

IFAW’s Erica Martin said: “IFAW is delighted to present Marny Bonner with an Action Award for her tremendous work in rescuing and rehabilitating hundreds of seabirds and marine wildlife.

“Alongside the late Lance Ferris, Marny Bonner has achieved great success in saving the lives of animals that would have surely died had they not been rescued.”

ASR was established in Ballina in 1992. Since then its members have rescued more than 1500 pelicans and has achieved a 92.7 per cent rehabilitation success rate with pelicans.

Marny is one of six ‘animal heroes’ across Australia to receive an IFAW accolade this year.

PICTURE: Marny Bonner (left) with Erica Martin, Asia Pacific Director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.