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, a music journalism contest for budding music writers in regional areas.

For the competition, all of the finalists must produce a blog about local music in their area and the music industry in general, complete with things like reviews and interviews. Members of the public get to vote on which blog they think is best.

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The outstanding speaker at the next Minglers Lunch to be held at the Ballina Baptist Church on Thursday September 9 is Mark Tronson, ‘the Footplate Padre’. Mark’s intriguing topic is ‘Cricket, Railways and Chaplaincy’.

Mark was the chaplain of the Australian Cricket team for 18 years and is currently chairman of Wellbeing Australia which runs respite centres for Australian Institute of Sport athletes and coaches, and the cricket fraternity which includes his ‘life after cricket’ program. His other diverse interests include railway locomotives (he is an authority – 16 books), abstract art painting (he has a gallery of his work on public display), hockey (he has been an Australian champion and authority – 5 books) and chaplaincy (he pioneered sports chaplaincy in Australia).

Recently, Mark and his wife Delma were presented with gold medals for their 27 years of sports chaplaincy by none other than Carl Lewis, the Olympian of the century. Mark and Delma now live in Tweed Heads.

Minglers Luncheons, ‘for retirees and those who wished they were’, are held quarterly with the first in June this year being great success. The Ballina Baptist Church is located on the corner of Kerr St (the Pacific Highway) and Bentinck St. The program commencing at 10.45 and finishing at 1.30pm include a lovely lunch and a varied program of fellowship and fun. The cost is $10 and booking is essential before September 4 to ensure a seat. For bookings contact Nancy on 6686 5621 or Graham Eggins on 6686 9313.

Ballina Shire Council is calling for tenders for the operation of surf schools, stand-up paddle schools and elite surf or specialist surf schools.

Council is offering three (3) surf school licences, three (3) stand-up paddle schools licences and four (4) licences for elite surf or specialist surf schools.

“This is a significant change for Ballina Shire as in the past, licences have been reissued to the same operators each year and with a limited number of licences available new operators were unable to enter the market,” the council said.

“Council receives many enquiries from people wanting to start up surf-based businesses, and under council’s recently revised Commercial Activities on Public Land Policy, these licences now require
open tendering.

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Ballina Shire has taken out two award wins at the 2010 North Coast Tourism Awards held in Coffs Harbour on Saturday 14 August.

Gaia Retreat & Spa was the winner of the Unique Accommodation category, and Macadamia Castle won silver for the Tourist Attraction category.

The North Coast Tourism Awards were the first joint regional tourism awards covering two regions, Mid North Coast and the Northern Rivers.

There were over 70 submissions received, nearly half coming from the Northern Rivers region.

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It’s on again! A year seems to go so quickly, but for the whole year, the girls at Alstonville Wollongbar Quota Club have been working towards their 10th Annual Arts and Craft Fair.

The Fair will be held on Saturday and Sunday, 28th and 29th August, 2010 -  as always, the last weekend in August each year.

Each year, fashions change, trends change, and so do the stands at the Fair.

All manner of wonderful creations will be on display again this year: fabulous jewellery, incorporating up-to-the-minute, innovative designs and colours; and, a range of fashion accessories and handbags.

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Tourism groups to promote Ballina and surrounds will be working more closely following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Northern Rivers Tourism and Ballina Tourism and Hospitality.

“Northern Rivers Tourism already works closely with tourism associations in our region, but this MOU will allow us to provide efficiencies and added services to tourism operators in the Ballina district,” said the CEO of NRT, Russell Mills.

The MOU is designed to enhance the reputation and public standing of both organisations and to better service the needs of the region, as well as increase communications and the exchange of information.

“Ballina Tourism and Hospitality is delighted to be more formally working with NRT for our mutual benefit,” said the president of Ballina Tourism and Hospitality, Jason Mumford.

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Local eligible organisations wishing to apply for the 2011 Seniors Week Grants Program for development and organisation of local NSW Seniors Week projects and activities need to submit their applications prior to the close of business, 27th August 2010, Member for Ballina, Don Page, said today.

“The program is designed to assist in developing and organising local NSW Seniors Week projects,” Mr Page said.

“Seniors Week will be held from 20th to 27th March 2011. The entire community benefits from involvement in this important event and I encourage local organisations to apply for this grant.”

Mr Page said there are two grants available: one up to $500 where applicants do not need to match the funding provided, and the other up to $1000 where the amount granted must be matched in cash or in-kind.

Guidance Notes and Application Forms for the 2011 NSW Seniors Week Grants Program are available from Don Page’s Office at Shop 1, 7 Moon St, Ballina, Ph. 6686 7522 or online at www.nswseniorsweek.com.au.

The Grandstand Eatery at Ballina Seagulls Rugby League Club has received an award from Northern Rivers Family Magazine.

The magazine’s Family Friendly Restaurant Award is awarded to local restaurants and cafés offering exceptional services to families with young children.

The Grandstand Eatery was nominated for the award by a local reader who was impressed with the restaurant’s reasonably priced, home-style cooking menu.

Editor and publisher of Northern Rivers Family Magazine Sadie Hunt said: “I am delighted to honour The Grandstand Eatery with this coveted award which is a much-deserved accolade and pays tribute to the hard work and innovation of new owner Kelly Taylor and her staff.”

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As migratory shorebirds make their way south towards our shores, a new group has been formed to co-ordinate shorebird management across the Northern Rivers Region.

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Pest Management Officer Lisa Wellman said that the group hopes to improve shorebird management by sharing resources and ideas and developing effective regional strategies.

“Both migratory and resident shorebirds are under pressure right across the region as the population increases. Predation by animals such as foxes also places them at risk,” she said.

“While national and international agreements to protect shorebirds are important, local efforts to protect them are also essential.

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The Ballina flotilla of the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard will hold its inaugural Ballina Boat and Leisure Show at the Kingsford Smith Park rugby league ground on October 9 and 10.

The event will raise funds for a new Coast Guard tower on Ballina’s North Wall.

In conjunction, the Rotary Club of Ballina will hold its annual duck race, which in previous years was part of the now-defunct Rivafest.

There also will be a Ballina Island Paddle Challenge organised by the Ballina surf club, and Australian Seabird Rescue will have a display.

Other attractions include exhibits of surfboards, surf skis, Hobie Cats, kayaks and fishing gear, and a fishing competition also will be held.

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