Ballina Tourism and Hospitality has the pleasure of inviting all members of

• Ballina Tourism and Hospitality
• Ballina Chamber of Commerce
• Alstonville Wollongbar Chamber of Commerce
• Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce

to our Inaugural Combined Social Event

What: Social Evening including complementary buffet dinner, drinks and nibbles (see menu below)
When: March 26
Time: 6pm
Where: Nightcap Restaurant Wollongbar TAFE
Cost: nil, sponsored by Ballina Tourism and Hospitality and North Coast TAFE
Address by Russell Mills, CEO Northern Rivers Tourism

RSVP: Dave Heggie 02 66 192 470 secretary@ballinatourism.com.au by March 18

This evening is proudly brought to you by North Coast TAFE and Ballina Tourism and Hospitality

More information and our scrumptious menu can be found at Ballina Tourism and Hospitality Social

Some items of interest and events by some of our members.

Somewhere Near Tapachula

A Film of Love, Life and Hope

‘Somewhere Near Tapachula’ will be touring Australia throughout February and March. The world premiere will be held in Sydney at The Dendy Circular Quay on the 25th of February 2010. A screening will be held at The Point Restaurant in Ballina on the 11th March 2010 @7pm for a 7.30 start. Tickets are available at The Point Ballina.   Phone 6618 1188

Tickets are $20 and you receive a free copy of the dvd – ALL money raised will go directly to the Mission.

ARSENIC & OLD LACE

Ballina Players presents their latest performance for your enjoyment

PERFORMANCE DATES: Fri 26th March (8pm); Sat 27th Mar (8pm); Sun 28th Mar (2pm); Wed 31st Mar (8pm); Thurs 1st Apr (8pm); Sat 3rd Apr (8pm); Sun 4th Apr (2pm); Thurs 8th Apr (8pm); Fri 9th Apr (8pm) and Sat 10th Apr (8pm)

Patrons are asked to be in the theatre at least 15 mins before curtain.

click here for more information

TICKET PRICES (& Bookings):  click here.

Cinema Under the Stars

Newcastle Permanent presented Night at the Museum 2 at Seagulls Rugby League Grounds during February and nearly 2000 people had a fantastic evening watching this movie under the balmy Ballina night sky.

read more …

Not a member yet, why not join and help us promote your business and this great region..
Half price membership is still on offer for the remainder of the 2010 financial year.

If you are already a member and have an event or a special promotion. Get in touch with me and I will help you promote it through Poscards form Ballina

So email me and ask for a membership form.  secretary@ballinatourism.com.au

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Ballina Tourism and Hospitality

Ballina Tourism and Hospitality has the pleasure of inviting members of

• Ballina Tourism and Hospitality
• Ballina Chamber of Commerce
• Alstonville Wollongbar Chamber of Commerce
• Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce

to a combined Social Event

What: Social Evening including complementary buffet dinner, drinks and nibbles (see menu below)
When: March 25
Time: 6pm
Where: Nightcap Restaurant Wollongbar TAFE
Cost: nil, sposored by Ballina Tourism and Hospitality and North Coast TAFE
Address by Russell Mills, CEO Northern Rivers Tourism

RSVP: Dave Heggie 02 66 192 470 secretary@ballinatourism.com.au by March 18

This evening is proudly brought to you by North Coast TAFE and Ballina Tourism and Hospitality

Not a member yet, why not join and help us promote your business and this great region..
Half price membership is still on offer for the remainder of the 2010 financial year.

So email me and ask for a membership form.  secretary@ballinatourism.com.au

Menu

Entre

Marinated Quail on Potato Rosti with a Rocket Salad & Onion Jam
Shanghai Prawns with a Chilli jam
Soft shell Mud Crab on Asian Salad

Mains

Garlic Lemon Barramundi
Seared Kangaroo Fillet
Rolled Lamb Loin stuffed with Sundried Tomatos & Asparagus
All mains have a selection of steamed veg roast veg coconut rice

Desserts

Gum Leaf Scented Cream Caramel
Pavlova with Wattle Seed
Lemon Myrtle Sago Pudding

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Ballina Tourism and Hospitality

Somewhere Near Tapachula

A Film of Love, Life and Hope

 ‘Somewhere Near Tapachula’ will be touring Australia throughout February and March. The world premiere will be held in Sydney at The Dendy Circular Quay on the 25th of February 2010. A screening will be held at The Point Restaurant in Ballina on the 11th March 2010 @7pm for a 7.30 start. Tickets are available at The Point Ballina.   Phone 6618 1188

Tickets are $20 and you receive a free copy of the dvd – ALL money raised will go directly to the Mission.

When Pam and Alan Skuse left Australia in 2000 to volunteer at a children’s refuge in Tapachula, Mexico, they had no idea how life-altering the journey they were about to embark on would be. 10 years later, Pam and Alan are still in Tapachula and have 50 children in their care at a refuge aptly named Mission Mexico.
 
Two young film-makers, Stefan Hunt and Jonno Durrant, had heard about Mission Mexico through a friend who was volunteering at the refuge. The boys donated a DVD Player to the mission and after they finished touring their documentary ‘Surfing 50 States’, Stefan decided to spend some time helping out at the refuge. Once there, he was inspired to capture life at the mission on film.
 
‘Somewhere Near Tapachula’, a documentary by Stefan and Jonno, offers an insight to the daily challenges and rewards at the refuge and the one common theme that brings the family together every weekend – the ocean.
 
In the documentary Pam said that the children of Mission Mexico have had to endure emotional pain and physical punishment early in life that no human should be subjected to. “Some have been beaten, some have been raped, we have children that were addicted to drugs at the age of 8 and 9 and others have been used as sex slaves or are victims of illegal human trafficking,” she explained.

“They all enjoy the beach because it helps them forget about their past and focus on the ‘now’. The wide smiles and enthusiasm is happiness and love in its purest form.”
 
As far as surfing is concerned, Mission Mexico has already produced a fine crop and Stefan and Jonno have captured it. “We looked forward to every weekend, because the beach was the place where everyone was at peace with themselves and so content to help each other in and out of the water,” Stefan said.
 
There are some standout performances in the water where the teenagers were pushing each other to challenge boundaries, but the real stoke comes from seeing some of the younger kids get up for the first time on a board. I don’t think I have ever witnessed something like that before – someone who has had a horrific start in life and a couple of years later is riding a surfboard, all smiles and surrounded by love.”
 
‘Somewhere Near Tapachula’ is a story of love, life and hope – Mission Mexico’s mantra. It defines how strong the human spirit can be.
 
“Pam and Alan have built a home based around love, respect and self-belief. After everything these kids have gone through early in life, they smile and laugh every-day. The inspiration given by these children matches that of any business mentor, sports star or musician.” Jonno stated.
 
 ‘Somewhere Near Tapachula’ will be touring Australia throughout February and March. The world premiere will be held in Sydney at The Dendy Circular Quay on the 25th of February 2010. A screening will be held at The Point Restaurant in Ballina on the 11th March 2010. Tickets are available at The Point Ballina.   

For more information please visit www.somewhereneartapachula.com <http://www.somewhereneartapachula.com>

All media enquiries and media interviews, please call Adam Mumford on 0414 444 769.

A Postcard with a Difference.

This is also your invitation!

Hi all,

As you know several times throughout the year Ballina Tourism and Hospitality presents social evenings for its members to update them on tourism happenings around the Ballina Coast and hinterland. For 2010 we feel that a combined approach to tourism happenings and promotion of this great area and so:

Ballina Tourism and Hospitality has the pleasure of inviting members of

• Ballina Tourism and Hospitality
• Ballina Chamber of Commerce
• Alstonville Wollongbar Chamber of Commerce
• Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce

to a combined Social Event

What: Social Evening including complementary buffet dinner, drinks and nibbles (see menu below)
When: March 25
Time: 6pm
Where: Nightcap Restaurant Wollongbar TAFE
Cost: nil, sposored by Ballina Tourism and Hospitality and North Coast TAFE
Address by Russell Mills, CEO Northern Rivers Tourism

RSVP: Dave Heggie 02 66 192 470 secretary@ballinatourism.com.au by March 18

This evening is proudly brought to you by North Coast TAFE and Ballina Tourism and Hospitality

Not a member yet, why not join and help us promote your business and this great region..
Half price membership is still on offer for the remainder of the 2010 financial year.

So email me and ask for a membership form.  secretary@ballinatourism.com.au

Menu

Entre

Marinated Quail on Potato Rosti with a Rocket Salad & Onion Jam
Shanghai Prawns with a Chilli jam
Soft shell Mud Crab on Asian Salad

Mains

Garlic Lemon Barramundi
Seared Kangaroo Fillet
Rolled Lamb Loin stuffed with Sundried Tomatos & Asparagus
All mains have a selection of steamed veg roast veg coconut rice

Desserts

Gum Leaf Scented Cream Caramel
Pavlova with Wattle Seed
Lemon Myrtle Sago Pudding

We have lots more happening so this is just a quick postcard to invite you. Don't forget RSCP by March 18.

More in another postcard soon.

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Ballina Tourism and Hospitality

ARSENIC & OLD LACE

Ballina Players presents their latest performance for your enjoyment

PERFORMANCE DATES: Fri 26th March (8pm); Sat 27th Mar (8pm); Sun 28th Mar (2pm); Wed 31st Mar (8pm); Thurs 1st Apr (8pm); Sat 3rd Apr (8pm); Sun 4th Apr (2pm); Thurs 8th Apr (8pm); Fri 9th Apr (8pm) and Sat 10th Apr (8pm)

Patrons are asked to be in the theatre at least 15 mins before curtain.

TICKET PRICES (& Bookings):  click here.

SYNOPSIS: Two sisters, Abby & Martha Brewster (played by Diana Mason & Robin Quinlivan), presuming elderly gentlemen, who are bachelors, are lonely, serve them Elderberry wine, spiked with arsenic. Teddy, their nephew (Bill Graham), who thinks he is Theodore Roosevelt, buries the bodies in the cellar, where he thinks he is digging the Panama Canal.

Mortimer Brewster (Brian Pamphilon), another nephew, discovers a body in the window seat and thinks Teddy has killed someone. The 2 aunts explain the situation. Another nephew, Jonathon (Mike Sheehan), arrives, accompanied by Dr Einstein (Allan Ennew), a plastic surgeon. Jonathon is a psychotic gangster trying to escape the police and find a place to dispose of his latest victim. When Jonathon finds out the aunt’s secret, he decides to bury his victim in the cellar. The aunts object, as their victims are all nice gentlemen. Jonathon plans to kill Mortimer, who tries to get on top of the situation. Mortimer’s bride-to-be, Elaine (Meredith Betts), is waiting for him at her home next door, with her father, Dr Harper (Owen Noble).

The police (Craig Evans, Warwick Binney & Jesse Mathews-Cooke) arrive to “save” the day.

Cinema Under the Stars

Newcastle Permanent presented Night at the Museum 2 at Seagulls Rugby League Grounds during February and nearly 2000 people had a fantastic evening watching this movie under the balmy Ballina night sky.

Many had brought a picnic  to enjoy while they watched the movie. Children also participated in a Tai Chi demonstration as the sun was setting prior to the movie commencing.

Smiles were found everywhere as the movie finished to applause and families moved off to their cars or walked home. I noticed there was a steady stream of cars travelling along the coast road.

Thanks for this great free community event and I have been assured that there will be more. I will keep you posted.

More info from www.newcastlepermanent.com.au/cinema

Las Balsas raft our new icon?

Following on from our Ballina Postcard last week members from Ballina Tourism and Hospitality have had discussions with The Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum and several Ballina Shire Councillors and believe that this, The Las Balsas Raft might be an appropriate and unique icon to represent Ballina Coast and Hinterland.

President of the Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum, Clem MacMahon, says the Las Balsas raft on display in the museum could be promoted as an icon of Ballina because of its national significance.

Of course, nothing beats going to the museum and seeing the raft which is the centrepiece of this fantastic museum. The DVD is available for purchase there as a great reminder and would make a great Christmas Gift.

“We are losing the Big Prawn as a landmark, but the raft could well replace it and attract interest,” Clem said.

“I consider it to be of national significance.

“There are only three (rafts of this type) in the world: one is the Kon Tiki raft at Oslo, a La Balsa raft (from the single-raft 1966 expedition from South America to Australia) at Barcelona and this one in Ballina.

“Locals, Australians and overseas visitors express amazement when they see it.”

Two more Tourism Graduates head to LA

Two Diploma of Tourism students from Wollongbar TAFE have secured an international internship with Hallmark Aviation Services. Caitlin Smith and Sunilla Wicks will be based at Los Angeles Airport working for an Australian-based Airline.

Last year, four Diploma of Tourism graduates were selected for the internship program and that recruitment was so successful that Hallmark Aviation returned to Wollongbar TAFE this year to offer more graduates internships.  Hallmark Aviation only recruit approximately 8 interns each year world wide.

 Allyson Taylor, Head Tourism Teacher at Wollongbar TAFE Campus says the company came back to us as they were so pleased with the quality of our students.  Hallmark was impressed both with the students themselves and the course content which they thought prepared them well for the operational and customer service role expected of them at Los Angeles Airport.

Hallmark Aviation, is a customer service and flight Operations Management company and is the premier Passenger Handling company for 5 international airports in the United States, including: Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, and is engaged by over 23 international airlines.

“I am looking forward to this new adventure. I always wanted to work for a Airline but never expected to be going overseas” said Sunilla Wicks.

 Benefit from Membership

Our 'EchoTV ad Campaign' has been running this week in the Lismore region. Website visitations have been going ballistic and hopefully we will be able to see the results with more bookings and visitors during the upcoming holiday season.

The call to action is to our new look main website www.ballinatourism.com.au

If you haven't seen it, have a look and drop us a line to help us with our work in developing Ballina Coast and Hinterland as a tourist destination.

We are planning new television echo advertising schedules, ventures, activities and promotions for the new year but we are a membership organisation and so need your help you with our strategies for promotion.

‘NEVER TO LATE TO JOIN’

Our Membership Prospectus and Invoice can be downloaded from our site here .

Ballina Tourism and Hospitality – Committee 2009/10

• Jason Mumford - The Point Ballina                            President
• Paul Ferguson – Ballina Colonial Motel                     Deputy President & Public Officer
• Dave Heggie – Digital and Virtual Environments     Secretary & Press Officer
• Allyson Taylor - Wollongbar TAFE                            Treasurer

• Gary Crane – Northern Rivers Trike and Bike Tours
• Rik Dillon – Amaze 'n' Place
• Peter Mehan – Wollongbar TAFE

Cheers

Dave Heggie
Secretary Ballina Tourism and Hospitality

Hi All,

Well RivaFest was HOT!

And it went off

with a bang.

Yes I was among the many Ballina locals that enjoyed the festival atmosphere along the Richmond River last Sunday. It was very hot and humid and people might not have stayed for as long as they wanted to during the day time.

BUT …

Come evening, the foreshore was packed with families enjoying the lantern parade and then the fireworks.

Following on from RivaFest, there was this story in this week's Ballina Advocate…

FORGET the seahorse.

Ballina Shire’s mayor, Cr Phillip Silver, has put forward the idea that a graphic of a community living by the river and a pathway could be used as the new branding – or logo – for the shire in readiness for the completion of the Ballina bypass.

The seahorse is Ballina Shire Council’s current logo, but Cr Silver said the new branding could help in identifying Ballina Shire post-bypass.

Cr Silver was speaking after last Sunday’s RivaFest, the annual festival celebrating the Richmond River and the communities on its banks.

He agreed the river had played a major role in the development of Ballina, and the shire, and the celebration of the river offered the chance for residents to feel a ‘sense of belonging’.

The council chipped in $35,000 to hold the festival, and raised more than $140,000 in sponsorship.
He said the river ‘was a reasonable thing to hang our hat on’ to promote the shire.

Dave Heggie, secretary of Ballina Tourism and Hospitality, said he wouldn’t be sad to see the seahorse go.

“I have never seen a seahorse in Ballina in 30 years,” he said.

“It’s a logo we’ve had, but it might be time to look at changing it.”

He said Ballina Tourism and Hospitality members were involved in discussions with council about changing the shire’s logo, but those talks stalled due to a lack of funding.

“At that time, we (Ballina Tourism and Hospitality) decided we needed to step outside the framework, and came up with our logo,” Mr Heggie said.

The Ballina Tourism and Hospitality logo is in the shape of a seashell, with colours representing the progression from the ocean to the river and to the greens of the hinterland.

He said Ballina needed to do everything possible to differentiate the shire from every other town in the region, and other coastal towns, particularly as the bypass is scheduled to be completed by 2012.

He said RivaFest was a ‘magic’ festival for locals, but said it didn’t really bring people to town from outside Ballina Shire.

“Maybe we need to create something that is for people outside Ballina,” he said.

What do you think? Send comments to secretary@ballinatourism.com.au

Our 'EchoTV ad Campaign' started last weekend in the Tamworth region and follows up next week in the Lismore region. That gives us 320 '30 second slots' promoting the Ballina region over these 2 weeks. Hopefully we will be able to see the results with more bookings and visitors during the upcoming holiday season. The call to action is to our new look main website www.ballinatourism.com.au

If you haven't seen it, have a look and drop us a line to help us with our work in developing Ballina Coast and Hinterland as a tourist destination.

We are planning new television echo advertising schedules, ventures, activities and promotions for the new year but we are a membership organisation and so need your help you with our strategies for promotion.

‘NEVER TO LATE TO JOIN’

Our Membership Prospectus and Invoice can be downloaded from our site here .

There is a very cheap and effective way of advertising your operation through the various Website Options, given that all our promotional activities use www.ballinatourism.com.au as the call to action.

Some things to do this weekend.

David Lane Studio Gallery

David Lane is an established, well-known regional artist whose paintings are represented in public and private collections throughout Australia and overseas. His home and studio are at 31 Fernleigh Road, Tintenbar in Northern New South Wales just 10 minutes North of Ballina, 20 minutes from Byron Bay.

David Lane’s 2009 exhibition is an exciting contrast of colour and light with subjects ranging from the harsh beauty of the Northern Territory and Central Australia to his more subdued local wetlands and seascapes. Each year David further develops his Artist’s eye bringing a shifting focus to the shadows and form of his subjects. David’s other love is his garden and visitors to his exhibition are also in for a treat in his small piece of paradise at Tintenbar.

David’s 2009 Painting Exhibition opens on Saturday 5 December at 10am. The exhibition is open daily from 10am to 6pm until 20 December.

When: Opening 10am December 5. Exhibition runs December 5 to December 20
Time: Daily, seven days 10am to 6pm
Cost: Free

www.davidlane.com.au 6687 8139

Cheers,

Dave

Ballina vies for Splendour

from The Northern Star

BALLINA has gained a reputation for poaching music events from Byron Bay, and they’re at it again.

Ballina Shire mayor Phillip Silver, Ballina Tourism and Hospitality spokesman Dave Heggie, and Ballina Chamber of Commerce chairman Glenn Costello have all said they would take Splendour in the Grass off Byron Shire’s hands.

Splendour producers announced this week they would be moving the festival north of the border to Woodford next year after repeated unsuccessful attempts to hold a trial event at Yelgun.

The festival has approval to run at Woodford for two years, but producers hope they will be able to use the Yelgun site by 2011.

Meanwhile, Ballina community leaders are rubbing their hands together in anticipation of festival producers becoming fed up with battling against Byron Shire.

Cr Silver said he would speak to council staff about trying to bring Splendour to Ballina.

“I can’t pre-empt it, but I think it is the sort of thing that Ballina could manage and that would boost our economy,” he said.

Mr Costello also said Splendour would be a terrific boon for Ballina.

“We would obviously like it,” he said.

“You’d be crazy not to.

“Why wouldn’t we?”

Splendour organiser Jessica Ducrou said sites in Ballina had been investigated almost five years ago.

“Since 2005 we searched the Northern Rivers extensively, including Ballina, for a potential permanent home,” she said.

“None measured up to the North Byron Parklands (Yelgun) site.

“We weren’t contacted by the Ballina Jockey Club or anyone else in Ballina, until Wednesday, when our move to Queensland became news.

“We really appreciate their enthusiasm and support for Splendour though.”

Ballina has stepped in twice before to host music events unwanted by the Byron shire.

Reggae festival Raggamuffin was held at Ballina’s Kingsford Smith Park this year after promoters withdrew an application with the Byron Shire Council following concerns over traffic management and parking.

In 2001 the legendary Bob Dylan moved his concert to Kingsford Smith Park after there were objections to a development application to hold the event in Byron Shire.

Ballina also hosted New Year’s Day music festival Beats on the Beach in 2006 at Kingsford Smith Park.

Cr Silver was unwilling to nominate a specific Ballina venue to host Splendour, but Mr Heggie suggested the Ballina Jockey Club.

“I think the Ballina Jockey Club would be a splendid place to have it,” he said.

“The racecourse is reasonably away from a lot of people, and they’re used to dealing with largish crowds out there.

“The horses might get a little bit upset, but I have talked it through with people from the racecourse and it would be possible if it was held when there wasn’t a race meeting.

“There’s also plenty of space for parking and there’s plenty of grass on the paddock so the name (Splendour in the Grass) would still fit.”

Jockey club CEO Sarah Wills said the idea of Splendour moving to the site had been suggested to her, but it would have to be supported by the board before any decisions were made.

Mr Heggie also said if Splendour was held in Ballina, Byron Bay would continue to benefit economically.

“The jockey club is close to the regional airport at Ballina and if Splendour  moved to Yelgun a lot of people would probably fly into Tweed anyway,” he said.

"So Ballina and Byron would miss out in that case.

And the move to Woodford would mean that the beachside feeling would be lost from Splendour.

If in the future, Splendour moved to Ballina, especially post bypass, then it would be great for the region.

A lot of people could stay in Ballina Alstonville Lennox and as well in Byron Bay and travel to Ballina for the festival.”

Our 'EchoTV ad Campaign' starts this weekend in the Tamworth region followed up thenext week in the Lismore region. That gives us 320 '30 second slots' promoting the Ballina region over the next few weeks. Hopefully we will be able to see the results with more bookings and visitors during the upcoming holiday season. The call to action is to our new look main website www.ballinatourism.com.au 

If you haven't seen it, have a look and dop us a line to help us with our work in developing Ballina Coast and Hinterland as a tourist destination.

Recently one of our members, Northern Rivers Trike and Bike Tours recently held a promotion in Guyra, followed up by our TV advertising. Ballina Tourism and Hospitality's DVD was shown extensively there with a very good reaction from those that have seen it.

We are planning new television echo advertising schedules, ventures, activities and promotions for the new year but we are a membership organisation and so need your help you with our strategies for promotion.

‘NEVER TO LATE TO JOIN’

Our Membership Prospectus and Invoice can be downloaded from our site here . There is a very cheap and effective way of advertising your operation through the various Website Options, given that all our promotional activities use www.ballinatourism.com.au as the call to action.

Cheers