Ballina Information Blog

Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin is holding public forum on climate change in Ballina this week to provide a local perspective on one of the biggest issues facing the Northern Rivers, Australia and the world.

The forum, ‘Climate Change: A Regional Perspective’, will be held in the Richmond Room, Regatta Avenue, at the rear of the Ballina Public Library, on Friday, November 21, from 5.30pm until 7.30pm.

Keynote speaker is Professor Jerry Vanclay, Head of the School of Environmental Science and Management at Southern Cross University.

Ms Saffin said this was an opportunity to hear this world-renowned expert on natural resource management and sustainability explain the possible implications of climate change for people living in the Northern Rivers.

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Officers and sailors of the Royal Australian Navy Heavy Landing Craft, HMAS Labuan, will march into the Shire of Ballina next weekend to observe the centuries old tradition of ‘Freedom of Entry’.

The occasion on Sunday, 23 November, will mark the first time in four years that the ship’s company has exercised their right, which signifies the bonds of friendship between a city or town and a military unit. 

Led by the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Warren Wood, the ship’s company will march down River Street at 10.30am, accompanied by the Ballina Shire Concert Band and the local Australian Naval Cadet unit, Training Ship Lismore.

“It will be a wonderful opportunity for HMAS Labuan to greet the people of their adopted shire,” LCDR Wood said.

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Lennox Head’s Seven Mile Beach has been announced the Northern Rivers Regional winner of the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Clean Beach Challenge.

Now in its eighth year, the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Clean Beach Challenge enhances beachside communities by promoting personal initiative, civic pride and environmental awareness.

The program recognises and rewards coastal communities, local councils, volunteers and surf lifesaving clubs for initiatives that enhance, protect and preserve the NSW coastline.

This includes dune and habitat conservation, community and business partnerships and environmental protection and education.

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The latest in a series of Operation Vikings High Visibility police operations was conducted in Ballina Shire last weekend by officers from the Richmond Area Command.

Police participated in High Visibility patrols in Ballina, Lennox Head, Alstonville and Wardell.

“During this period, additional General Duties and Highway Patrol police were strategically deployed in phases to each township,” Ballina Duty Officer Greg Moore said.

“The focus of the operation was for periods of high-visibility policing in each town during identified trouble periods.

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The NSW Coalition will restore free travel for school children across NSW, Member for Ballina Don Page MP said.

“I believe giving a child access to education is one of the most important things a community can do for any child,” Mr Page said.

“If some parents cannot afford to pay the new tax and children are not able to go to school as a result, this is a tragedy for the child, the family and society.

“Many people are concerned about the potential increase in costs to get their children to and from schools in the Ballina electorate and beyond. 

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November exhibitions at the Northern Rivers community Gallery, 44 Cherry St Ballina, run from Friday 7th to Sunday 30th, Wednesdays to Sundays from 10am to 4pm

Foyer
The Gallery Shop
The Gallery Shop changes on a monthly basis so when you see something unique and beautiful that’s the time you’ll need to buy it. Babies’ shawls, jewellery, ceramics, silkworks, photographs and textiles are among the wonderful artisan works on display this month.

Muffin (acrylic) by Jackie Ash

Gallery 1
Dogs I’ve known and other memories…
Jackie Ash says of her dog portraits that “these are an homage to our Best Friend and for all the dogs I’ve loved and lost and for the ones I will love in the future. The figurative works, Other Memories have become a visual dialogue between the past and present. Driven by a yearning to understand something of my personal history, in order to shape and inform my own life, has led to these images on canvas”.

Gallery 2
From the white duck
Angela Bettess states: “Diversity in creation of art works is important to me. I relish various types of artistic media to express an uplifting and positive experience of ideas for both myself and the viewer. I enjoy the use of narrative and these art works are based on the search for happiness. The mixed media works include the use of collage and the small size adds a sense of intimacy to the narrative. In contrast, my oil paintings are expressions in colour and paint application”.

Gallery 3
Southern Cross K-12 High School Student works
This highly creative and appealing display from Southern Cross K-12 High School students includes ceramic animals and portrait paintings.

Gallery 4
Vintage Visions
This delightful mixed collection was the brainchild of one of the Friends of the Gallery. It includes vintage and vintage-look clothing, jewellery, accessories and paintings for sale. In addition, some collectors of vintage have lent the Gallery some unique items for display in this inaugural exhibition.

Home Made Socks

Another exciting first: the Friends of Northern Rivers Community Gallery establish a new Art Competition.

In 2009 competitive exhibitions will be displayed in the Gallery in January, March and May of works in oils, acrylics, watercolours, pastels, drawing, sculpture and photography. Prizes will be given for each medium and there will also be a People’s Choice prize awarded. Entry forms are available from the Gallery.

The New South Wales Government needs to immediately rethink its plans to close the Alstonville Tropical Horticulture Centre,  Member for Ballina Don Page said.

Mr Page called on the Government to investigate ways of continuing the research done at Alstonville, instead of ‘flogging off the valuable real estate’.

He said the Tropical Horticulture Centre is recognised by the State Government as the key facility in New South Wales that supports sub-tropical horticulture.

“To lose that sort of facility would be a terrible blow to horticulture, not only in northern New South Wales, but the rest of the state,” Mr Page said.

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Alstonville is to lose its agricultural research station under a Department of Primary Industries revamp brought about by cost-cutting measures in the NSW Government’s mini budget.

The Alstonville station is one of eight facilities being closed around the State.

Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald said there would be no forced redundancies of staff.

Mr Macdonald said the DPI was conducting a comprehensive review of science and research to determine the most efficient way of servicing rural communities and to make sure Government priorities, such as climate change, are met.

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It’s hotting up for the fire show spectacular at Rivafest!

Like the proverbial moths to a flame, Ballina Rivafest’s Fire Show spectacular is set to attract spectators in droves from 8pm on Sunday 30 November, as the celebration of the Richmond River prepares for the first ever lantern fire show on the river.

The Little Critter Lantern Parade will kick-start the evening with lanterns that have been prepared by children from Holy Family and Ballina High schools as part of the Rivafest school program which took place in the weeks leading up to the event.

The parade will be followed by a bunch of talented and highly skilled Northern Rivers kids from Inspired Youth Performing Arts with a fire twirling frenzy to a tribal beat.

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Ballina Shire residents can have their say on where they want new cycleways and shared pathways at an Open Day in River Street on Saturday, November 15, from 9am until noon.

Project team members from consultants GeoLINK will be on hand to listen to your ideas or provide further information.

GeoLINK has been hired by the Ballina Shire Council to survey residents’ thoughts on two new sections of cycleways and shared pathways which are being planned for Lennox Head and Ballina.

The Lennox Head section will stretch from the Boat Channel at the southern end of Seven Mile Beach through Lennox Head village and up to the shire’s northern boundary.

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