Ballina Information Blog

Being a finalist in a national competition to find Australia’s most promising young music journalists has boosted Max Quinn’s dreams of carving out his career in the music industry. A Southern Cross University Bachelor of Arts student, Max has been selected from thousands of Australia-wide entries as a finalist in the Optus Sound Scribe competition, [...]

Lawrie Horder will celebrate his 70th birthday in an unusual fashion: he will set off to conquer the Kokoda Track. Lawrie, of Ballina, will fly to Papua New Guinea on May 29 with son Adam and three other men, who will begin their Track trek on May 30, the day Lawrie turns 70. Adam, a [...]

Ballina woman Betty Reynolds was last week recognised for her long-term service to Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter. 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 [...]

Dan Hannaford is fast becoming a name to listen out for. The 31-year-old singer-songwriter is ‘grinning from ear to ear’ after receiving a huge boost to his music career — he has been awarded a Star Development Deal from Sony Music Entertainment.   Dan, who lives at Currumbin on the Gold Coast, grew up in [...]

River Street will go purple from Monday 21st – 27th September to support of the Cancer Council Relay For Life 2009 in November. 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. [...]

Or better still, where did Condon Drive go? 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 [...]

Ballina resident Jennifer Tunks (pictured in the white cap) has been named as one of the 2009 IGA Community Chest Unsung Heroes Awards regional winners. 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 [...]

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 [...]

Lion Bob Morgan, a member of the East Ballina Lions Club, was congratulated by District Governor John McCrae for having achieved 40 years of  continuous dedicated community service as a member of Lions. From 1966-72 Bob worked in Government administration in Papua New Guinea and it was during this time that he joined the Madang [...]

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 [...]