With only a week since our announcement of a strategic membership alliance with Northern Rivers Tourism our rate of membership renewals are growing at an impressive rate. I would personally like to thank you for this support and look forward to a very rewarding 2010/11 year.

Perhaps you would like yur business to enjoy the benefits of Corporate Sponsorship like the three businesses above. This is an outstanding promotional opportunity and as it is limited, get in there fast.

It’s important to note that our special membership offer will only be available up until September 30, so I encourage those who have yet to renew or become a BTH member for the first time, to support the industry body that supports you.

This is a very exciting time for our industry and I welcome your feedback on how we can better service your business requirements and I look forward to working with you over the coming 12 months.

Our websites have been updated with the new member's information, so if you haven't already please renew your membership or send the information and images needed for your business to be displayed on our site to dave secretary@ballinatourism.com.au

What you haven't joined yet, well please take advantage of the reduced cost of membership whilst it is still available this month. Forms are available from our website or simply reply to this postcard and we will email you one.

Later this month we will be having our Spring Social at The Point in Ballina on Sept 23. So add this to your diaries. Come along and meet new members, why not invite someone you know who is not a member so they can see the way that Ballina Tourism and Hospitality helps promote tourism for this fantastic region.

Note those that have not renewed will be removed shortly, so get that form of NOW.

  The Point Ballina Cup Calcutta is Tonight

The Point Ballina in association with the Ballina Jockey Club will be holding The Ballina Cup Calcutta.

This year will be bigger and better with Lion Nathan sponsoring the evening's event.

Last year drew a fantastic crowd.

So don't forget to include this evening in your calendar for a night of fun and excitement in the lead up to the Ballina Cup!

WEDNESDAY 8th SEPTEMBER

AT THE POINT BALLINA BAR & RESTAURANT

TICKETS ON SALE FROM 5.30PM

Enjoy The Point Ballina’s hospitality right on the waterfront

more calcutta  info…

The Point Ballina Cup is on this Thursday

Yes the Ballina Cup is on again this year at the Ballina Jockey Club on next Thursday. So get your fashions sorted out and enjoy the best of racing.

more cup info…

Lennox Community Market

Every 2nd & 5th Sunday
02 6687 8618

Enjoy a great day out at Lennox Market on Sunday September 12th, held on the banks of the beautiful Lake Ainsworth. Musical entertainment will be provided by JUZZY SMITH.

With over 100 stalls showcasing a variety of local and exotic products, along with healers, buskers and yummy food, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

Ballina Players Money & Friends by David Williamson.

Directed by Judy Woodfield

Opening night, is thsi Friday 10th September is a premium black tie event with catering, champagne and a chance to meet the cast after the show. A limited number of tickets are available for this night. The season runs until 25th September at the Players Theatre, Swift Street.

Tickets are available at Just Funkin Music, River Street, or phone 6686 2440.

The 2011 Ballina Coast & Hinterland Visitor Guide will open for sales within the next couple of days so make sure you don't miss out on this excellent annual marketing opportunity.

The visitor guide will be out for the peak December Christmas period and has themed sections for activities, attractions and tours, accommodation, touring routes, events, markets, parks and reserves, arts and culture, family activities, heritage and history, shopping, entertainment, nightlife and much more.

The guide also contains a regional map, an extensive directory, key information and useful phone numbers. With a print run of 70,000 copies, the guide is the perfect tool for accommodation providers, attractions, tours, cafés, retailers, health and well being providers.

Click on the image for the prospectus.

Andrea Munsie will be coordinating advertising sales and will be in touch shortly. You can also contact Andrea on 0428 003 528 or balinfo@ballina.nsw.gov.au

Source Ballina Council

 Tourism Symposium – register now

With only a week since our announcement of a strategic membership alliance with Northern Rivers Tourism our rate of membership renewals are growing at an impressive rate. I would personally like to thank you for this support and look forward to a very rewarding 2010/11 year.

It’s important to note that our special membership offer will only be available up until September 30, so I encourage those who have yet to renew or become a BTH member for the first time, to support the industry body that supports you.

This is a very exciting time for our industry and I welcome your feedback on how we can better service your business requirements and I look forward to working with you over the coming 12 months.

We will soon be updating our site with the new member's information, so if you haven't already please renew your membership or send the information and images needed for your business to be displayed on our site to dave secretary@ballinatourism.com.au

Kind Regards,
Jason Mumford
President Ballina Tourism and Hospitality

Lennox Community Markets

Enjoy a great day out at Lennox Market on this Sunday August 29th, held on the banks of the beautiful Lake Ainsworth.
Musical entertainment will be provided by BROADFOOT.
With over 100 stalls showcasing a variety of local and exotic products, along with healers, buskers and yummy food, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

The Lennox Community Market is run as a fundraiser for the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter so we thank you for your continued support.

Margaret (Di Ennew) and her young lover Justin (Matthew Woodfield)

Money tests the boundaries of friendship // New play asks how much friendship is worth

David Williamson has made a success of understanding the driving passions and foibles of sectors of Australian society. In Money & Friends, Ballina Players upcoming production, he lays bare the characters’ passionate affairs with property, money, love and friendship.

While Peter (Allen Ennew) is burdened with the debt of a property deal gone wrong his well-heeled and long-standing friends won’t part with any of their money to help him out. Meanwhile Peter’s good friend Margaret (Di Ennew), while less concerned with money, reveals her own passion for a young man Justin (Matthew Woodfield), twenty years her junior. As the injustices of tested relationships and friendships mount Margaret laments the limited sexual opportunities for older women compared to those of men. As she points out, ‘A man can marry someone twenty years younger and nobody bats an eyelid.’

Against a backdrop of holiday homes at the exclusive town of Crystal Inlet, friendships and relationships are tested, not just by money but by truth.

Opening night, Friday 10th September is a premium black tie event with catering, champagne and a chance to meet the cast after the show. A limited number of tickets are available for this night. The season runs until 25th September at the Players Theatre, Swift Street.

Tickets are available at Just Funkin Music, River Street, or phone 6686 2440.

 Upcoming Race Meetings at the Ballina Jockey Club

		Sunday 29 August
		Thursday 9 September
		* Track Side Marquee * Bus Timetable * Fashions in the field

This newsletter is proudly sponsored by

Ramada Hotel and Suites

Ramada Hotel and Suites Ballina, is perfectly located on the magnificent Far North Coast of New South Wales has 115 rooms comprising Hotel Spa Rooms, 1 and 2 bedroom suites and 2 and 3 bedroom penthouses, all with modern, stylish décor and all the facilities you would expect from an international class hotel. 

http://www.ballinatourism.com.au/ramada-ballina.html

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Ballina Tourism and Hospitality

Ballina Tourism & Hospitality (BTH) is delighted to announce the establishment of a strategic membership alliance with Northern Rivers Tourism that will allow us to provide increased efficiencies and added services to tourism & hospitality operators in the Ballina Shire.

This strategic membership alliance is designed to enhance the reputation and public standing of both organisations and to better service the needs of the region, as well as increased communications, the exchange of information and to eliminate membership duplication.

How will this new membership alliance affect you?

Until 30 September 2010 if you have already renewed or are looking to join BTH, your membership will be automatically upgraded at no additional fee to the next tier of membership, for a period of 12 months, and you will maintain your website advertising options during this period on the BTH websites.

This is a massive saving of up to $185 as well as an enormous range of additional benefits.

Please see an example of the membership migration below;

For those Ballina Shire operators who are already Associate, Premium or Corporate members of NRT you will automatically be provided with membership to BTH at no additional cost. By the end of September we will phase out the existing BTH membership model and we will move to the joint regional tourism membership model.

This is a very exciting and positive move for our industry and as the voice for tourism & hospitality, in the Ballina Shire, we are confident that the closer association with Northern Rivers Tourism will bring more benefits to our current and potential members.

This will come about due to the combined resources of BTH and NRT, and is a pioneering change for our region’s tourism industry.

We encourage you to join in and be a part of this dynamic industry membership program as it is critical, now more than ever, for your business to be an active member of BTH & NRT. We welcome the opportunity of working with you.

Should you have any questions please feel free to contact me directly on 0414 865 111, Russell Mills (NRT CEO) on 02 6687 0695 or Dave Heggie (BTH Secretary) on 02 6619 2470.

Yours sincerely

Jason Mumford
President
Ballina Tourism & Hospitality

Organisational Background
Ballina Tourism and Hospitality is a private sector industry body, whose aim is to drive the growth of Ballina Coast & Hinterland (Ballina Shire) tourism and hospitality businesses through the development of co-op marketing campaigns, representation to local government on tourist signage and issues affecting our industry.
BTH’s vision is for Ballina’s Coast & Hinterland to be a destination, popular with domestic and international visitors, wanting to enjoy the region’s diverse cultural and natural attractions and experiences.

The role of Northern Rivers Tourism is to provide leadership and direction for the tourism industry of the region, to promote destinations and experiences in the region amongst target markets and provide a platform for tourism operators to participate in tactical marketing and attract tourism dollars. It also facilitates and coordinates professional and skills development workshops and seminars for the commercial success of industry operators, interprets industry insights and intelligence, and provides advocacy to state and federal tourism agencies in the interests of the Northern Rivers’ regional tourism industry.

You can download our membership from Ballina Tourism and Hospitality website. and remember you only have until 30 Sept 2010 to take advantage of this massive saving of up to $185 as well as an enormous range of additional benefits.

We are excited and looking forward to the fantastic outcomes that can be achieved for our region and the whole of Northern Rivers through this alliance.

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Ballina Tourism and Hospitality

Well the rain is coming down a bit today, but we have had some great days recently.

The whales that are on their journey north don't seem to mind and neither do all the people watching from the vantage points along our cost and headlands.

So hopefully the weekend will fine up and even more people can venture out to these fantastic creatures.

Why not come to the Lennox Community Markets on this Sunday at Lennox Head?

Along with  the usual  beauty of nature at its vibrant best, the surprises of over  100 stalls showcasing a variety of local and exotic products a carnival fun fest will be held on market day north of the Lennox Head surf club.

Included will be a Mickey mouse jumping castle for up to 10s and another for the real little ones.

Tickets will be available in a raffle with over $1000 worth of prizes donated by the Market stallholders. Proceeds go to the Lennox Head Tornado Appeal.

Come and support the appeal.

 Tornado appeal raises $50,000

THE appeal for the victims of the Lennox Head tornado raised $50,000 and a committee has been formed to oversee the distribution of the money.

The appeal was launched by the Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce immediately after the June 3 tornado.

Chamber president Louise Owen said she was pleased with the community effort in raising the money for the victims, and congratulated the community for the generosity shown.

In particular, she praised the business community of Lennox Head in their support of the victims and volunteers.

Mrs Owen said anyone affected by the tornado – whether they were insured or not – could fill out an application form and post it to the committee for consideration.

She said the committee would like all applications to be lodged by July 31.

Application forms are available from the Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce website

Ballina Tourism & Hospitality and The Ballina Jockey Club are proud to announce the inaugural Ballina Tourism & Hospitality Race Day combined with The Ballina Bracelet.

So book this day in your calendars for a great day. Contact Dave secretary@ballinatourism.com.au for more information and ticket requests.

We welcome on board The Australian Hotel in Ballina who have picked up sponsorship for our eighth race,

Yes The Race Day has now got 8 races. Next week I will be able to give you more information.

Race Sponsors

Ballina Tourism & Hospitality Cup
Gem-Array Jewellers The Ballina Bracelet
Fleurs Restaurant
Ramada Hotel & Suites Ballina Byron
Northern Rivers Bikes & Trikes
Comfort Inn All Seasons
Ballina North Coast Party Hire
Buddha Gardens Day Spa
The Austalian Hotel

and of course Thrifty Car Rental who are sponsoring the Lennox Head Tornado Appeal Punters Club.

Alstonville and Hinterland Set to Bloom

ALSTONVILLE is set to blossom once the bypass and the main street upgrade are completed, and blossoms could make the Plateau village more of a destination.

WE’RE READY: President of the Alstonville-Wollongbar Chamber of Commerce, Peter Mehan, says the Plateau is ready for the bypass and the Main Street upgrade.

ALSTONVILLE is set to blossom once the bypass and the main street upgrade are completed, and blossoms could make the Plateau village even more of a destination.

The president of the Alstonville-Wollongbar Chamber of Commerce, Peter Mehan, said the chamber was looking for a signature event to be held in the plateau village, along with the annual rodeo and agricultural show.

And the diversion of the Bruxner Highway route to the south of the town, he said, would provide an opportunity to block off Main Street for a festival, and to advertise it with banners strung over the road – something not allowed now because the road is a highway.

He said there had been talk of revitalising the Tibouchina Festival, which hadn’t been held for about 10 years, but with a different format.

But gardening is one potential theme for an event, he said.

“What things remind you of Alstonville?” he said.

“Gardening is one thing, and a gardening festival could be a big thing.”

And the village will have plenty of skilled people to work with as Wollongbar TAFE currently runs an events management course. Mr Mehan, who also is the campus manager of Wollongbar TAFE, said there were opportunities for partnerships with the students and the community to organise a signature event for Alstonville.

The chamber of commerce has, for the past three years, held a Christmas market in town, and the Apex Club has run the New Year’s Eve event.

The current cohort of TAFE students ran the Northern Rivers Wine and Food Expo at the Wollongbar campus, which attracted 1000 people.

The bypass is scheduled for completion in December this year.

Read the rest of this story in The Ballina Advocate

Last chance to see Miss Saigon

Remaining Performance Dates (Evening Shows 8pm): Fri 9th July, Sat 10th July

Bookings: Telephone 6686 2440 (bh) or

online http://www.ballinaplayers.com.au/performances/bookings/

Read Anna's Review of Miss Saigon here

Tourism Ballina and Hospitality MEMBERSHIP

We are finalising our prospectus at present with some new and innovative initiatives for 2010 and 2011.

If you would like to become a member, please Contact Dave secretary@ballinatourism.com.au to ensure that you will be emailed a prospectus.

 Don't forget you can follow us on twitter or read more on our facebook wall.

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Ballina Tourism and Hospitality

The Northern Rivers Food and Wine Expo

Ballina Tourism & Hospitality and The Ballina Jockey Club are proud to announce the inaugural Ballina Tourism & Hospitality Race Day combined with The Ballina Bracelet. So book this day in your calendars for a great day. Contact Dave secretary@ballinatourism.com.au for more information and ticket requests.

We welcome on board THRIFTY CAR RENTAL who have donated $400 towards a Lennox Head Tornado Appeal Punters Club. For the uninitiated (including me), this is how it works!

Thrifty's donation would be used to punt on horses racing at Ballina to win money for the appeal.

Gary Kliese, who is the Sky Racing announcer and does our mounting yard tips on race day for television as well as on course punters, is willing to give us the horses and schedule for punting.

Any winnings would be collected and if necessary the betting could be adjusted during the day to maximise the return. Gary did this for a charity recently at another race meeting and from the pool quadrupled in size for the charity.

What a great and novel way to fund raise!

Race Sponsors

Ballina Tourism & Hospitality Cup
Gem-Array Jewellers The Ballina Bracelet
Fleurs Restaurant
Ramada Hotel & Suites Ballina Byron
Northern Rivers Bikes & Trikes
Comfort Inn All Seasons
Ballina North Coast Party Hire
Buddha Gardens Day Spa 

Ballina Players MISS SAIGON

Remaining Performance Dates (Evening Shows 8pm, Matinees 2pm):  Fri 2nd July, Sat 3rd July, Sun 4th July (Matinee), Thurs 8th July, Fri 9th July, Sat 10th July

Bookings: Telephone 6686 2440 (bh) or

online http://www.ballinaplayers.com.au/performances/bookings/

Read Anna's Review of Miss Saigon here

Tourism Ballina and Hospitality MEMBERSHIP

We are preparing our prospectus at present with some new and innovative initiatives for 2010 and 2011.

If you would like to become a member, please Contact Dave secretary@ballinatourism.com.au to ensure that you will be emailed a prospectus.

 Don't forget you can follow us on twitter or read more on our facebook wall.

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Ballina Tourism and Hospitality

Ballina Players MISS SAIGON

 Anna's Review

I had to pinch myself on Friday night when Miss Saigon opened at The Players Theatre in Ballina. The last time I felt the same kind of buzz was when Bob Dylan came to town. It's not that there haven't been other events that warrant a good night out but Friday evening's performance heralded the sense of something bigger, something of a wider measure, of being part of a culmination of hard work and the magic of good stage presence.

Miss Saigon is  not to be missed. There is something powerful about this show.  It embraces  aspects of regional theatre life and takes it  to a higher plateau. Musically directed by Sue and Paul Belsham with great sound and light effects, one is drawn into well choreographed scenes that capture emotion,  imagination and the mayhem that surrounded the Vietnam war era.

Dean Salonga 's performance brings a gift of ingenious comedy and seriousness in one. An original star of Miss Saigon performed by professional theatre in Sydney for two years, Salonga contributes to the power of success in his performance as 'The Engineer'.

Grace Cockburn makes a sensuous and beautiful Vietnamese  Kim whilst Dean Doyle well portrays the American GI. The emotions are strong yet the balance of fabulous dancing girls, set design and costumes, make this a performance of outstanding calibre.

What I loved was the balance of amateur and professional cast that made it feel more real and the incredible orchestral band squeezed into a tiny space front of stage made me think how fortunate we are to have such talent and commitment in the Ballina region.
My suggestion is that you quickly get some friends together and make a booking. Sensational!

Performance Dates (Evening Shows 8pm, Matinees 2pm): Fri 18th June, Sat 19th June, Sun 20th June (Matinee), Fri 25th June, Sat 26th June, Sun 27th June (Matinee), Thurs 1st July, Fri 2nd July, Sat 3rd July, Sun 4th July (Matinee), Thurs 8th July, Fri 9th July, Sat 10th July

Bookings: Telephone 6686 2440 (bh) or online http://www.ballinaplayers.com.au/performances/bookings

 Don't forget you can follow us on twitter or read more on our facebook wall.

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Ballina Tourism and Hospitality

Ballina Tourism & Hospitality and The Ballina Jockey Club are proud to announce the inaugural Ballina Tourism & Hospitality Race Day combined with The Ballina Bracelet. So book this day in your calendars for a great day. Contact Dave secretary@ballinatourism.com.au for more information and ticket requests.

Race Meeting July 23 from 11:30am

The weather just didn't hold quite long enough for the first scheduled running so hoping the horses do not get wet feet again, the Ballina Tourism and Hospitality Cup is now being held in July.

This will be a much bigger meeting with lots more prize money attracting a higher quality field and of course more people. It will attract many quality horses from Queensland hoping to win the $50,000 bonus that is on top of the $11,000 prize money that comes with this race.

A big thanks to the supporters who have again sponsored a race and a big welcome to Gem-Array Jewellers.

Also stand by for an announcement on how this race day will benefit the Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce Tornado Appeal. More next week about this innovative way for raising funds. More next week!

They are:

Race Sponsors

Ballina Tourism & Hospitality Cup
Gem-Array Jewellers The Ballina Bracelet
Fleurs Restaurant
Ramada Hotel & Suites Ballina Byron
Northern Rivers Bikes & Trikes
Comfort Inn All Seasons
Ballina North Coast Party Hire
Buddha Gardens Day Spa 

Ballina Players MISS SAIGON

Performance Dates (Evening Shows 8pm, Matinees 2pm): Fri 18th June, Sat 19th June, Sun 20th June (Matinee), Fri 25th June, Sat 26th June, Sun 27th June (Matinee), Thurs 1st July, Fri 2nd July, Sat 3rd July, Sun 4th July (Matinee), Thurs 8th July, Fri 9th July, Sat 10th July

Bookings: Telephone 6686 2440 (bh) or

online http://www.ballinaplayers.com.au/performances/bookings/

The Story

Set in 1975 during the final days of the American occupation of Saigon, Miss Saigon is an epic love story about the relationship between Kim, a young Vietnamese woman, and Chris, her American GI.

Kim works in a sleazy Saigon night club owned by a notorious wheeler-dealer known as ‘The Engineer’. John, an American GI, buys his friend Chris the services of Kim for the night. That night will change their lives forever.

Three years later, the US Army has fled Saigon.

Chris has returned to America and is now married to Ellen, an American woman. He believes that Kim was killed during the war and is shocked to find out that she is alive and living in poverty in Bangkok with their three year old son Tam.

When Kim learns that Chris is in Bangkok with his new wife, all her hopes of living the American Dream dissolve. She is desperate for her son to have a future in America with his father and will make the ultimate sacrifice to achieve this. read more

 The Point Restaurant Ballina & The Sandbar & Restaurant have again joined gastronomic forces to present the 2nd Annual Duck & Pinot Food Trail. This tasteful event will be held on Friday 25th June 2010 and will have locals chomping at the bit to secure a table!

This ALL Bangalow Duck, Six course degustation event has been designed to demonstrate how restaurants can proactively work together whilst showcasing our fantastic regional produce.

Local chefs Perry Hill and Nicolas Gomez-Duran have developed a delectable six-course degustation menu reminiscent of their culinary experience, which will be matched with an array of fantastic pinot noirs from across old and new worlds of wine making.

The Point’s Chef Perry Hill will prepare;

•    Warm confit Bangalow duck salad with Davidson’s plum & star anise

•    Chinese style Bangalow duck with Sichuan pepper and mandarin

•    Clear duck broth with Bangalow duck dumplings and Asian mushrooms

A short bus ride to the Sandbar and Nic’s Spanish/Latin influenced dishes will include;

•    Banaglow Duck Breast “Ham”, spiced bread sauce, black turtle beans

•    Bangalow Duck “Mole”: braised duck meat with cocoa & chilli, corn blini

•    Star Anise Baba, vanilla Bangalow duck egg sabayon
 

All our dishes are matched with wines from Addley Clark Fine Wines portfolio with local brewer Stone & Wood providing their superb ales to assist in the cleansing of the palette.

Event transportation has been organised to ferry guests from The Point to the Sandbar.

Tickets for this premier event are $95 p/p. This includes the six-course degustation menu with matched tasting wines, and a bus. Event starts at 12.00 pm on Friday 25th June at The Point Ballina.

Bookings can be made at The Point Ballina 02 6618 1188.

 Don't forget you can follow us on twitter or read more on our facebook wall.

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Ballina Tourism and Hospitality

Lennox Tornado Appeal to Benefit

Ballina Tourism and Hospitality is proud to announce that The Lennox Tornado Appeal through the Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce will benefit from our Race Day. Official collection points will be manned on the day by BTH members. This is just another incentive to come along on this day. So make sure you have this day in your diary If you wish to donate before then, then visit the Lennox Chamber website for details.

Ballina Tourism & Hospitality and The Ballina Jockey Club are proud to announce the inaugural Ballina Tourism & Hospitality race day. So book this day in your calendars for a great day. Contact Dave secretary@ballinatourism.com.au for more information and ticket requests.

Race Meeting July 23 from 11:30am

The weather just didn't hold quite long enough for the first scheduled running so hoping the horses do not get wet feet again, the Ballina Tourism and Hospitality Cup is now being held in July.

This will be a much bigger meeting with lots more prize money attracting a higher quality field and of course more people. It will attract many quality horses from Queensland hoping to win the $50,000 bonus that is on top of the $11,000 prize money that comes with this race. Click here to find out more about the Ballina Tourism and Hospitality Race Day.

While talking about Lennox

Thursday afternoon will be a big day for Footy fans. From 5:30pm the NSW State of Origin side will be available for a meet and greet in the park opposite the Lennox Point Hotel.

As well later that night 'The Footy Show' will broadcast live from the hotel.

Again on the Lennox theme, some feedback that isn't so nice. A Lenox local helped someone  clear up the rubbish from the storm and took it to the tip in Ballina for them in his ute. Imagine his dismay at being charged $64 upon leaving! This is not good at all and discourages others from helping. One of the best things coming from this disaster is that the community spirit was there with everyone helping where and where they could. This newsletter goes to all the Ballina Councillors as well as the General Manager and Mayor.

I will keep you informed of any response from them re this samaritan being out of pocket.

Also have you seen how many out of state number plates are amongst those rebuilding. Surely we have enough local builders who would be available? Let me know your comments.
 

And do not forget about the Northern Rivers Food and Wine Expo 2010

2010 Tourism Symposium – Dates Announced

Sourced: Ballina Shire Council Tourism Department.

Northern Rivers Tourism have announced the dates for the 2010 Tourism Symposium. The follow up to the highly successful event will be held on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 October 2010 and will be held at Peppers Salt Resort and Spa at Kingscliff. The program will continue to integrate workshops, networking and presentations from key experts in tourism fields. The theme is still under wraps but there will be a focus on the role of technology in the future of regional tourism and the industry at large. The Tourism Symposium's organising committee would welcome any suggestions you might have for this year's program and this can be emailed to rsvp@northernriverstourism.com.au   Make sure you save the dates now – if last year's event was any indication, places will be limited!

Ballina Coast & Hinterland Showcased Sourced: Ballina Shire Council Tourism Department.

Twenty six regional visitor centre staff from across the region visited the Ballina Coast & Hinterland last month to familiarize themselves of the tourism product and experiences on offer. Staff from the visitor centres at Byron Bay, Brunswick Heads, Clarence Valley, Lismore, Nimbin, Richmond Valley, Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads were very impressed, with survey results indicating that the participants would recommend the products and services they experienced on the day. A very big thank you to all the Ballina Shire tourism operators who participated in the famil and generously providing time, product, experiences and accommodation to make this such a huge success. The next regional visitor centre famil will take place in late June and the region to be showcased will be Lismore.

Tourism Awards – Nominate Now Sourced: Ballina Shire Council Tourism Department.

Nominations for the NSW Tourism Awards close on Friday 23 July, 2010 so make sure you jump online and get yours in now. Even if you have already entered the North Coast Tourism Awards, you must still nominate if you intend to forward your submission to the NSW Tourism Awards. Nomination is easy, simply log on to www.awards.ticnsw.com.au and click on the E-Awards link.

Tourism Awards Workshop Sourced: Ballina Shire Council Tourism Department.

The Tourism Industry Council of NSW are holding a free workshop for tourism organisations wanting to enter the 2010 NSW Tourism Awards. The full-day session is being held on Monday, 21 June 2010 at Industry & Investment NSW, Sydney. The workshop covers the entire entry process and provides hints and tips on what the judges are looking for to help entrants produce a winning submission. For anyone who cannot attend a workshop a Call for Entries booklet is also available. It contains all the important dates, rules for entry and contact information in a A5-sized booklet. It also includes a DVD that contains hints and tips sheets on Financial Viability, Sustainability, Risk Management and 'Feedback Tips' from Judges plus a video presentation of our workshop – Winning Submissions, Winning Awards. Request your copy now from Shan Lawson, Awards Coordinator, by emailing awards@ticnsw.com.au

 Don't forget you can follow us on twitter or read more on our facebook wall.

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Ballina Tourism and Hospitality

Lennox Tornado

IT ARRIVED with no warning, lasted just a few moments, and left a trail of destruction through the sleepy coastal town of Lennox Head – including asbestos sheets scattered across streets.

The tornado that swept in off the ocean on the north coast at about 7.30am last Thursday was little more than 50 metres wide, but it left homes in ruins, overturned caravans, brought down power lines, injured residents and sent poles flying into houses and cars. read more here

Lennox Head might have been declared a disaster zone due to last week's tornado, but please be aware that:

LENNOX IS STILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND TOURISM.

The damage though horrific was very concentrated in the one area so it is business as usual in Lennox. PS, lots of whales are passing by and it is worth the trip to view from the headland or even from the beaches.

The Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce have launched a Lennox Tornado Appeal.

Donate at any Southern Cross Credit Union branch to:
Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce,
BSB 802185, acc/no 137897,
Acc Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce Inc.

There is to be a Community barbeque on Monday June 14th 2.30pm on the dunes in front of the pub. Everyone welcome to thank the emergency services and to support the fund with vouchers for auction.

Also footy show here on Thursday.

More Information on the Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce website

The annual Lennox Head Community Tree-Planting Day. 

To celebrate World Environment Day and do our little bit for the community and the earth, GeoLINK, together with Ballina Shire Council, is once again organising the annual Lennox Head Community Tree-Planting Day. This was meant to have taken place last week, but…. the new date will be Friday 11 June 2010. 

This year Council is providing 1,100 saplings to plant in a 2,100m2 area, which we will be planting from 9.00 am through to 12 noon.  We have attached some further information about the day which we encourage you to share with your colleagues, family and friends.

We will be getting our hands dirty but it’s not all hard work!  A BBQ and refreshments will be provided throughout the morning, and just for fun we will have entertainment and lucky prize draws as well.

Sun protection and covered shoes are essential, and if you have gardening gloves and / or tools it would be great if you bring them with you.

If you would like to come and enjoy beautiful winter’s morning on the Lennox headland planting trees, please RSVP by return email or call us on 02 6687 7666.

Planting will take place  at the top of Lennox Point headland, commencing at 9.00 am through to 12 noon. We look forward to seeing you on Friday 11th June.

Ballina Tourism Race Day Race Meeting

July 23 from 11:30am

This will be a fantastic event so make sure you have booked the time and date into your diaries'

Ballina Tourism and Hospitality sponsors the Ballina Tourism and Hospitality Race Day more info…

Ballina Players MISS SAIGON

Performance Dates (Evening Shows 8pm, Matinees 2pm): Fri 18th June, Sat 19th June, Sun 20th June (Matinee), Fri 25th June, Sat 26th June, Sun 27th June (Matinee), Thurs 1st July, Fri 2nd July, Sat 3rd July, Sun 4th July (Matinee), Thurs 8th July, Fri 9th July, Sat 10th July

Bookings: Telephone 6686 2440 (bh) or

online http://www.ballinaplayers.com.au/performances/bookings/

The Story

Set in 1975 during the final days of the American occupation of Saigon, Miss Saigon is an epic love story about the relationship between Kim, a young Vietnamese woman, and Chris, her American GI.

Kim works in a sleazy Saigon night club owned by a notorious wheeler-dealer known as ‘The Engineer’. John, an American GI, buys his friend Chris the services of Kim for the night. That night will change their lives forever.

Three years later, the US Army has fled Saigon.

Chris has returned to America and is now married to Ellen, an American woman. He believes that Kim was killed during the war and is shocked to find out that she is alive and living in poverty in Bangkok with their three year old son Tam.

When Kim learns that Chris is in Bangkok with his new wife, all her hopes of living the American Dream dissolve. She is desperate for her son to have a future in America with his father and will make the ultimate sacrifice to achieve this. read more

 Don't forget you can follow us on twitter or read more on our facebook wall.

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Ballina Tourism and Hospitality