Our July Business after Hours was held at the Richmond Room on Tuesday the 24th after a very sucessful Grow your Business Roadshow.

The evening was hosted by AusIndustry, the Northern Rivers Business and Advisory Service and the Northern Rivers Area Consultative Committee.

The evening was enjoyed by all participants, and the lucky door prize winner was Dave Heggie from Digital and Virtual Environments.

If you would like to attend or would like some more information on the chambers great networking events just contact Nadia Eliott-Burgess, at the chamber on 66815049.

June’ Business After hours was held at the new Rakuu Japanese Take Away
& Truck Stop SK8: Skate and Street Wear on River Street.

Our host’s Paul, Koya and Emi provided drinks and Japanese nibblies. Paul also celebrated Truck Stop’s 3rd Birthday. Congratulations Paul!

The winners of our lucky business card draws were Sheila from BBQ’s Galore who won a platter from Raku and Kim from The Northern Star who won the fabulous street and skatewear prize.

If you would like to come along to one of our Business after Hours events or would like to host one of your own, just contact Nadia at info@ballinachamber.com.au or phone her on 66815049.

Many thanks to Summerland House With No Steps for hosting our May Business After Hours and congratulations on the opening of your new waterpark.You can see the great facilites they offer, so check them out on www.summerlandhouse.com.au

A great evening was had by all, with plenty of networking and laughs,with Air T&G winning the lucky business card draw prize, which was the a bottle of red and white and sparkling wine, a new label launched by Summerland House With No Steps called Turning Point.

We welcome all new businesses to come along for our entertaining and informative Business after Hours,they are held on the second Tuesday of each month from 5.30 to 7.30. If you are a new business and want some great publicity you should host a networking event, for more information just contact us at the chamber.

Rob & Helen Stutfield and their team at the Telstra Licensed Shop put on a great after hours on Tuesday 13th March in their fabulous new premises at Ballina Central. Sue Passmore, General Manager of Telstra Country Wide, spoke about the Next G mobile network and wireless Broadband solutions whilst the drinks flowed and canapes circulated. It was a great night with quite a few new faces. Craig from Savvy Human Resources won the lucky door prize - a new phone!! Congrats to Craig and thanks to the Telstra team for their hospitality!!

Westpac hosted a networking function on Tuesday 27 February at the Ballina Beach Resort. This one started a bit earlier than usual as the team had Westpac’s senior economist, Justin Smirk visiting to give members an economic forecast for 2007. It was a great meeting and members enjoyed fabulous drinks and canapes on the verandah in and around the resort thanks to the Westpac team.

Grandview Apartments, East Coast Property Services and The Northern Rivers Family Magazine co-hosted a Business After Hours on 17 November in the Grandview Apartment Penthouse!!

Members enjoyed a lovely meal and an incredible view whilst learning about these three businesses.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ATTRACT OVER 50 FELLOW BUSINESS OPERATORS INTO YOUR BUSINESS? IF SO, CONTACT THE CHAMBER ON 6681 5049.

Even though it was School Holidays and many of you were taking some time to be with the family, around 50 operators came along to the RSL Club on Tuesday 10 October to meet the Credit Union Australia crew and network with your fellow members. Duncan Purkiss, Regional Manager for NSW and Col Kirkwood, State Manager for NSW and ACT for CUA both made an appearance along with our local Branch Manager, Kim Rook.

The canapes were fabulous (Gerhard Spatz’s home made pate!! YUM) and there was heaps of food to enjoy with a bevvy or two whilst chatting about the upcoming Boom Town Ballina 150 Year Celebration (at this point it was BIG secret as to who the Miss 1964 Summergirl was!).

Over 50 operators came along to Air T&G’s Hangar at Ballina Airport to check out Ballina’s first ever commercial helicopter service on Tuesday 26 September. One lucky member won a free helicopter ride!! Fabulous nibbles were catered by Mint Catering and Sirocco Cafe with wines and beers supplied by Ballina Discount Liquor.

Air T&G’s Flying School has since received approval so if you have always wanted to learn how to fly a helicopter - now you can!!

Over 60 operators attended Bronz Worx on Tuesday 12 September to witness a live bronze pouring. David Mackay Harrison outlined how the moulds and shells are prepared and explained the ‘lost wax process’. Members gained access to the Gallery and Portfolios whilst enjoying canopes and drinks.

In early 1999 David Mackay Harrison, internationally renowned bronze sculptor & artist, purchased a Foundry in Brisbane. David has now moved the business to Ballina, under the new banner of Bronz-Worx. The 2006 Business Excellence Sculpture Awards were designed by David and poured by the team at Bronz-Worx right here in Ballina!! Check out David’s work at http://www.dmhart.com.au, visit the Studio and Gallery at 79 Bayview Drive, East Ballina by appointment.

A big thank you from the Chamber Board of Management, its staff, sponsors and members to David Mackay Harrison and his team for sponsoring, designing and pouring the 2006 Ballina Shire Northern Star Business Excellence Awards !!

Over 90 business operators turned out to check out the Sandbar & Restaurant with cars lining Shaws Bay for miles!! Coffee Nirvana co-hosted the event showcasing their new blend LATTETUDE. Members sampled stunning Mezze Plates and indulged in a few beverages whilst listening to loungey funk tunes in the modern and ambient decor.

On Friday 30 June Ballina Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce and Ballina Tourism Inc. ran a Cross Cluster Networking Night at Ballina Airport hosted by Ballina Airport Horizon Cafe, REX Airlines, AVIS Car Rentals, Jetstar, North Coast Airline Services and Ballina Byron Rental Cars

This event attracted over 90 business operators from different sector and geographical clusters to learn about what other business are doing, tell everyone ehat they are up to and network with prospeactive clients, alliance partners, colleagues, suppliers and the like.

TP Health sponsored two beautiful gift baskets for door prizes and Tourism ballina Inc. ran a fundrasing raffle. First prize was a scenic flight via Air T&G and second prize was a Joy Ride with Harley & Trike Tours.