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!!

April’s Breakfast before Business and Annual General Meeting was jam packed. Firstly we would like to congratulate our new board members; Peter Carmont from The Professionals Ballina, and Debbie Carter from Wallace and Co,to join continuing members Kim Thomas, who was re-elected, Byran Marriott, Glenn Costello, Clarissa Huegill and Rob McArthur.

Many thanks to outgoing members, Jo Halpin and Elton Cummings for their vibrant and dynamic contribution to the Chamber.

Our speaker for the morning was Gael Drum, a specialist in stress management and author of ‘Beyond Burnout to Balance’. Gael presented a workshop with strategies designed to reduce stress and increase happiness, this was recieved with much hilarity by most in the room. (See Photos..)

So our stress was definately taken care of and our energy levels increased with the help of Mark Nancarrow from Zoom Coffee. Thanks again Mark!

Wow, what a breakfast.Held at tha Ballina RSL, we had over 50 our members take part in what turned out to be a very interesting morning. We had the candidates for the seat of Ballina come along to gives us their pitch on why we should be voting for them. John Bailey, Melanie Doriean,and Don Page were each presented with a gift of beer by the very enterprising Ben Smith.

The morning was informative and fun, with fabulous food provided once again by the team at the RSL.

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.

50 plus members attended the last BBB for 2006. Bryan Marriott provided a Board Report and Katrina Luckie from the Northern Rivers Regional Development Board spoke to members about long term employment opportunities and sustainable development in the Northen Rivers along with an overview of the work that the NRRDB undertake. Albert Julumm was also in attendance to provide members with the opportunity to view a Scams and Fraud DVD produced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (this disk is available for loan from the Chamber office).

Many thanks were passed on to Mark Nancarrow from Zoom Coffee for providing members with espresso coffee at the Chamber breakfasts in the later months of 2006. I am pleased to announce this will continue in 2007 and Zoom will be launching their very own coffee label!!

Watch this space for information regarding the first BBB for 2007 scheduled for 21 February!! In the meantime please do not hesitate to contact the Chamber with any queries info@ballinachamber.com.au

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

This month the emphasis was on new and existing members of the Chamber. 60 operators passed the microphone around the room and introduced themselves and their business to fellow members. Networking is not everyones strong point and with over 60 members at each function it can be hard at times to now who is in the room with you and what benefit you may get from forming a relationship. Members said this was a great way to target people they specifically want to network with at future functions.

Tony Shaw, Liz Shepperd and Caroline Breen from the Rivafest committee aso came along to tell members about the Program for Ballina’s flagship festival and how businesses may benefit from being involved.

Over 90 members attended the Christmas Party which was held in the fabulous premises of Cafe 29 On Friday 1 December. Exclusive viewings of the Ramada International Hotel’s prototype room were showcased on the huge plasma screen television that Cummings Retravision kindly donated to the Chamber to run a raffle to raise some operating funds. Kim and Ken Fitzgibbons of Ballina Marineland were the lucky winners of the raffle!!

Northern Rivers Brewing Company provided Chamber members with the first ever tasting (all ten litres of it!!) of their fresh ale - a new product line (feedback was great) and canapes were circulated by the friendly Cafe 29 team. REX sponsored a Lucky Door Prize for a trip for two return to Sydney of which Maureen and Bill Coulter were the lucky winners.

The weather was gorgeous and it was a fun and frivolous night with members saying the party was a great wind down after a big year in Ballina.

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!).