“The local members of the Ballina Lighthouse and Lismore SLSC do an outstanding job patrolling our beaches. This grant will assist the club in the construction of the long-awaited new clubhouse and patrol building at Lighthouse Beach in Ballina,” Mr Page said.

“Our local volunteer lifeguards and junior lifesavers have continued their support for the club over a number of years, despite the lack of adequate facilities such as hot showers and change rooms.

“These volunteers provide an invaluable service in keeping our beaches safe and teaching our kids the skills they need to be safe in the water.

“I am pleased to see the NSW Government recognising the service our surf lifesaving clubs provide with this funding.”

NSW Minister for Sport and Recreation Graham Annesley said the NSW Government is committed to Surf Life Saving NSW, having upgraded facilities to support the hard work of surf lifesavers and provide valued community assets.

“There are over 120 surf clubs along the NSW coastline patrolling more than 200 beaches during the surf season and each and every one of them is a credit to their community,” Mr Annesley said.

“In addition to this round of funding the NSW Government has committed a further $2 million per annum for 2013 and 2014 to assist surf live saving clubs in providing the facilities and services required to enhance beach goer’s safety.”

For more information on the program visit www.surflifesaving.com.au

Mr Page said that the grants allow money generated from the sale of NSW recreational fishing licences to be re-invested back into improving recreational fishing opportunities in the region.

“Fishing is an immensely popular recreational activity, with around one million people dropping a line in NSW every year,” Mr Page said.

“Funds raised in the past year through recreational fishing licence fees are now available to assist recreational fishing groups, community organisations, councils and individuals to improve fishing in their local areas.

“Funding that is generated from the sale of NSW recreational fishing licences is placed into separate saltwater and freshwater fishing trusts, which spend all funds on improving recreational fishing.”

Funding from NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts is open to individuals, groups and organisations, including fishing clubs, local councils and universities. Joint applications are also encouraged.

Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson said the allocation of trust funds is recommended by committees of expert fishers as part of a five-year strategy that includes both short-term and long-term projects.

“In the 2012/13 round of Recreational Fishing Trust funding, the NSW Government is allocating around $14 million to a wide variety of programs throughout NSW, including fish stocking, artificial reefs, fish aggregating devices, fishing facilities, Fishcare volunteers, fishing clinics and essential research to improve recreational fishing,” she said.

Applications for funding close on Friday, 2 March 2012.

Funding applications must benefit recreational fishing. Contributing funding and in-kind support, such as voluntary labour, is encouraged.

For more information or assistance with applications contact NSW Department of Primary Industries on (02) 6648 3917, email recreational.fishingtrust@dpi.nsw.gov.au or visit www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au

The council says it intends to design a centre for the entire community, from sporting groups and community groups to a centre for civic functions.

The preferred location for the centre is Kingsford Smith Reserve and Council’s preferred option is to design a centre which will include a two-court multi-court centre for sports, trade shows or concerts and performances.

The facility would also include a catered function centre with movable internal walls to allow for a fully flexible space that can be one large function room or divided up to form four individual rooms.

The final design will be such that the centre can be extended in the future to include a third court to meet the growing demands of the Ballina community.

PDT Architects will be conducting information gathering sessions on 17 February 2012 at the Ballina Shire Council Chambers.

Council is inviting interested sporting and community groups to register to attend by contacting Chris Allison on 6686 1442 or email chrisa@ballina.nsw.gov.au

Time slots will be allocated to organisations when registering. It is intended that these sessions will formulate the basis for possible inclusions in the centre.

Ballina finished unbeaten and beat the strong Sydney side, Hornsby, in the final.

Game 1 v Hunter Valley

Ballina bowled first and got on top early with Tom Watkins dismissing 3 of the first 4 batsmen for ducks to have Hunter Valley reeling at 5 for 32. They were dismissed for 89 with Tom Watkins (3/12) and Jack O’Sullivan (2/14) starring and the rest of the bowlers getting 1 each. The batters made light work of the total with a solid start by the openers Sam Lucas (18) and Josh Pearce (12) and an unbeaten 40 run partnership by Tobyn Burvill (22 no) and Callum Carmont (20no) to get to 2/92 at the 25th over.

Man of the match: Callum Carmont.

Game 2 v Armidale

Ballina batted first and looked in a little trouble at 2 for 43 in the 19th over however from that point the match changed. Tobyn Burvill (29) and Callum Carmont put on 61 runs to steady the ship and then Ryan Jenkins (32) and Carmont put on 104 runs in quick time to get right on top of the Armidale attack. With 3 overs to go Carmont was on 82 and getting to 100 looked tough. However in the 48th over he hit 3 consecutive sixers to bring up his hundered and then a further four and six to take 28 off the over. He was eventually out for 115 (104 balls) in an innings that included 6 sixers and 9 fours. The total after 50 overs was 7/235. Armidale batted steadily however Ballina was always in control and dismissed them for 152. Tobyn Burvill took the honours with the ball with 3/22 backed by the ever reliable Tom Watkins who took 2/28.

Man of the match: Callum Carmont.

Game 3 v Penrith

There was little doubt the men from the mountains were the pre tournament favourates and with both teams undefeated a place in the final was at stake. Ballina batted first and were in early trouble at 2/5 but Sam Lucas (23) and Callum Carmont (27) took the score past 50. At 5/83 things looked grim however Ryan Jenkins then produced his innings of the tournament smashing 58 and with late contributions from Tom Watkins (10) and Baille Shirvill (10no) the final score was 9/176. The opening bowling attack of Tom Watkins (3/14) and Callum Carmont (5/9) smashed through the Penrith batting lineup to have them 5 for 18 after 11 overs and they never recovered to be bowled out for 97.

Man of the match: Callum Carmont.

The Final v Hornsby

With both teams undefeated the final was sure to be a cracker with the local papers billing it as ‘City v Country’. Hornsby won the toss and sent Ballina into bat. Ballina made a fantastic start with the opening batting combination of Tobyn Burvill and Josh Pearce being 0/115 after 25 overs with a massive total on the cards. Then the match changed with several wickets. Tobyn Burvill was out for a wonderful captains knock of 71 which included 8 fours and Josh Pearce a great hand of 31. Several run outs caused some panic but middle order contributions from Matt Earl (12), Ryan Jenkins (17) and Mitchell Pearce (12) got the total to 173 which seemed a bit light on a good batting track. Hornsby looked in control at 1/80 in the 28th over but the introduction of Jack O’Sullivan changed the match taking 3/9 in 3 overs to have Hornsby 4/95. Hornsby batsman then panicked as the required run rate rose and with great bowling from Mitchell Pearce (2/10) and Ryan Jenkins (2/28) and superb fielding by the team to get 3 run outs they were dismissed for 130 with 10 overs remaining.

Man of the match: Tobyn Burvill.

Player of the tournament: Callum Carmont.

PICTURE: The Ballina Under-15 team, back row from left: Peter Carmont (Manager), Joshua Pearce, Ryan Jenkins, Tobyn Burvill, Jack O’Sullivan, Callum Carmont, Russell Pearce (Coach); front row from left: Jamieson McDonald, Matthew Earl, Jasper Bala, Tom Watkins, Mitchell Pearce, Baille Shirvill.

Originally from Sydney, I was on an around-Australia surfing trip with no finish date.

I  arrived in Ballina short on money, got a job at the Ballina Slipway as a cabinetmaker/shipwright, boarded in Bentinck St for a couple of weeks.

I then met the woman that owned and ran the Hastie Tastie takeaway café in Ballina. She had a flat to rent at East Ballina, which I and a Sydney guy, Barry Pussell, moved in.

It was about this time we met the guys from the “Big Pink” whilst surfing, and and that’s when I got know Shorty Connors (pictured).

All of the guys had jobs so we didn’t surf through the week much, so on Saturday morning after a big night at the Lobster Pot pub, having at least three tequilas before we left, it then it was on up to the Big Pink, with half of the people from the pub to party on to who knows when.

So at about 10 am we would go around to the Big Pink and wake the guys up for a early morning start to go surfing.

I have plenty of stories, but back to Ronny: I had never met a guy who was so confident of himself and confident of life. When Ron walked he walked with his chest out and his silvery blond hair flowing, even if he was only walking to have a shower. He also surfed with the same attitude.

After some time, maybe 12 months, there was a vacancy at the Big Pink and I was asked by the board of management, Ron being the chairman, if I would like to move in, which I accepted.

I got the dodgy back verandah room. I was so lucky. After some time, I think winter 1971, four of us went to New Zealand for a surf trip and I can’t remember if Ron came with us or came over later, but anyway we were sharing a house in Gisbourne NZ – and this is the reason I have never forgotten Shorty: we were getting dressed to go out partying one night and I was wearing my favorite old, oversize, worn-out, sleeves-torn-off white sloppy joe when Shorty said ‘I really like that shirt. Would you like to swap it for a shirt I have?’, his shirt being a dark blue with white and light-blue stripes with a sort of polo neck  very trendy for the surfing 60s/70s, which in actual fact I did like, so we swapped shirts.

After coming back from NZ in 1972 I stayed in Sydney met my wife, Linda, have 2 boys, 2 girls, so in Xmas 1986 (Adam being the youngest at 2 years) we set off on a renewed pilgrimage to Byron.

It was then I found out about Ronny and I was shocked – dumbfounded. I could not believe it.

Guess what? I still have Ronny’s dark-blue striped surf shirt. It will all ways be Ronny’s, not mine.

You can ask my wife Linda: I don’t show my feelings, but I did shed a tear or two writing this letter.

Best regards

Brian Cronshaw

0414 496 037

(Editor’s note: The Big Pink was a block of flats in Seaview Street in East Ballina. The Hastie Tastie Cafe was run by Shirley Knight, who also owned the Pine Avenue flat referred to. the cafe was located in Cherry St, just up from the Australian Hotel. Shirley and her husband Col later owned the takeaway shop in the river end of Norton Street for quite a few years. ‘Hastie Tastie’ was not the cafe’s real name, but that’s what the local surfers of the day called it.)

The Selection Committee has met and the Directors have accepted their recommendation that Lesley Bellden and Julie Krone join the list of inductees.

The induction will take place at the Iris Nielsen Memorial meeting on Sunday 29th January 2012.

Lesley Bellden, the first woman to ride a winner at Randwick, will be present to accept her honour at the track where she won the Ballina Bracelet in the 1980s when it was a $40,000 event.

Julie Krone, the rider of 3704 winners and the only woman to have ridden a winner in America’s Triple Crown, will also be trackside to receive her award.

Although she retired in 2004, she turned down an offer to be a participant in the TV hit show Survivor to ride at the Legends Race at the Doncaster St Ledger Carnival in the UK in September 2011, and she recorded another victory with a ride the Guardian newspaper described as “a class apart”.

The Iris Nielsen of 2012 will be the fifth running of the event and to help finance the event the Ballina Jockey club has published a souvenir brochure and the lady jockeys in the Hall of Fame have agreed to make themselves available to sign it at the racetrack on the day.

Copies can be purchased through the club’s website at www.ballinajockeyclub.com.au or at the track.

The High Performance program will act as a train-on squad for the NSW Interstate Team and assist the NSW Interstate athletes and their coaches win back the prestigious Interstate Title from the Queenslanders.

“This is the highest quality squad we have had, almost every person medaled at State or Aussies last season. We received over 180 nominations for the squad and of that 53 have been selected. This squad of 53 will have be to trimmed down to 28 for the NSW team, so these guys will be training hard for the chance to wear the sky blue of NSW and bring home the gold,” said Chris Parker, SLSNSW Surf Sports Manager.

The camp will also provide elite NSW athletes with the development pathway in order to be selected in the Surf Life Saving Australia High Performance Team.

“It forms a vital pathway from club through to the elite level of competition giving competitors the skills and experience required to perform on a national level,” said Parker.

The High Performance Program will be led by Head Coach and NSW State Coach Jeff Mowbray and NSW State Assistant Coach Scott Jones.

The athletes will take part in a variety of physical training sessions in surf, beach and pool rescue disciplines as well as relevant theory sessions conducted by leading industry professionals in the field of sports performance. The team will also compete in Round 1 of the Sydney Water Series.

Other Far North Coast lifesavers in the program are Josh Brown (Byron Bay) and Ela Heiniger (Byron Bay).

It is the biggest regional skate event in Australia and attracts skaters from across the country.

This is the 12th year the event has been held, and skaters will compete across a number of divisions including U13s, U16s, open women’s, open men’s and sponsored skaters.
 
Registrations will be 8.30am with the event program starting at 9am.

Each year the competition attracts a number of big-name skaters, with great cash and prizes up for grabs by competitors and those in the crowd.

With the assistance of Ballina Shire Council, the Fair Go organising committee has been working hard to present a bigger and more exciting competition program.

After being awarded Ballina Shire’s Community Event of the Year at this year’s Australia Day ceremony, the event is gaining momentum.

Paul Scharka has been involved in the event for a number of years.

“It’s great being involved in an event for kids of all ages,” he said.

“Not only is it a great opportunity for young and older local skaters to display their talents, but local skaters get to see some of Australia’s best skaters strut their stuff. With a great carnival atmosphere, good food and giveaways, I encourage everyone to get down to Missingham Skate Park and make a day of it.”

Registration forms are available from the official event website www.fairgoskate.com.au or Truck Stop SK8 in River Street.

Participants and spectators are reminded that alcohol is prohibited at the event and surrounding areas.

For more information visit www.fairgoskate.com.au or phone Holly Archibald on 66861 457.

PICTURE: Jesse ‘Notorious Red’ Noonan getting in some practice for Fair Go.

The field was evenly split between social and competitive categories with the following prizewinners:

Fastest Male – Matthew O’Garey – time of 49min 6sec.

Fastest Female – Kate McGrath – time of 54min 53sec.

Fastest Surf (spec) ski – Tanyn Lyndon  49min 52sec

First Kayak home – Geoff Urquart – 1hr 3min 51 sec

Sprint Winner – Timothy Stenlake

Oldest Participant – George Rhodes

Youngest Participant – Mackenzie Winchester (12)

All participants received a welcome pack and certificate with their lap time. Ballina SLSC would like to thank all paddlers for taking part and their valued sponsors for assisting with an important fundraising effort for the surf club.

“This is the second year of running the event and with each event we are getting a better idea of what we can do to make it work better. The event will be back in 2012 – with some new categories and format,” a spokesman said.

It is a major fundraiser for the Life Saving Club and will also benefit the Ballina Jet Boat Service.

It is open to any participant with a paddle craft – whether it be an Ocean or Racing ski, Kayak or stand-up paddle board.

There will be a number of great prizes with different categories. Pre-registration is available online and registration forms will be available at www.ballinasurfclub.com.au or by picking them up from:
- Ballina Visitor Information Centre (River St)
- Paradise FM (Cherry St).

The first to head around the island will be those wanting to go at a more leisurely pace – 10am with the larger craft (Surf Boats/Outriggers) at 10.15am, with the more competitive Paddle Challenge, taking off at 10.30am.

Registration confirmation will be at the Sand Spit closest to the Sailing Club on River Street, with craft launched at the northern end of the Sand-Spit.

There will be a number of prizes on the day. The major prize that will be up for grabs can be won by any participant at the conclusion of the event. (Lucky Draw).

The day will start at 10am and the morning will finish with the Westlawn Property Dash for Cash – open to any participant.

There will be a cash prize for this event and will involve either a beach or deep water start and beach finish – providing some spectacular action around the turning buoys and finish line.

All participants in the Paddle Challenge will receive a welcome registration kit comprising aerial shot of Ballina, drink bottle, visor and free entry into the Ballina Boat Show. I

n recognition of the achievement all paddlers will also receive a commemorative certificate.

The inspiration for the event is to provide a community activity celebrating the world-class waterway that we have at our disposal in Ballina.

As you paddle around the Island you encounter abundant marine and bird life as well as the changing landscape of estuary, mangrove and ocean.

Visit www.ballinasurfclub.com.au for more info.