Ballina RSL Club
Entertainment & Special Events Entertainment & Special Events

Ballina tourism brochure, published in 1964.

Boom Town Ballina - Summergirl Competition

Begins Monday 30th October – tune in to Paradise FM to take part in all the fun! It’s a bit like Where’s Wally? except she’s better lookin’!

So what’s the story behind this competition?

In the week leading up to Ballina’s 150th Anniversary Gala Dinner on Monday 6th November, a very special guest will be joining the Ballina community. A very special Miss Summergirl, folks … that’s who … and she simply loves a festive community! She’s back from the year of 1964 and has jumped straight off the cover of the 1964 Ballina tourism brochure. Keep your eyes peeled for her around Ballina from Monday 30th October … she may also be carrying her trusty beach ball. Our sources say that Miss Summergirl is keen to experience Ballina in all its glory in 2006 … she’ll be examining all that’s changed since 1964 … and, no doubt … will be in for a few surprises indeed!

How can you participate?

All you have to do is be the first person to spot Miss Summergirl on one of her 7 days of Ballina touring (30th October – 6th November). Upon sighting her, be mighty quick to phone Paradise FM on 6686 0101. If you’re the first caller through and you can correctly confirm her location for the day, you’ll WIN a prize! 

We will be tracking and recording Miss Summergirl’s adventures here on our website, through Paradise FM and the Ballina Shire Advocate.

Find out where she’s been, what she’s been up to … and check out her thoughts on the Ballina community of 2006! 1964 is a whopping 42 years ago … so who knows what she might think of us!

Miss Summergirl reports in ...
 
DIARY OF A 1964 SUMMERGIRL OBSERVING THE BALLINA COMMUNITY IN 2006
 

Monday 30th October 2006
 
My day at the Ballina Ramada Riverside Apartments ...
 
My, how much Ballina has changed since 1964!
 
Spending time at the Ramada today, I experienced first-hand the wonderful view looking out over Fawcett Park, the Richmond River and the amazing (but a little scary) Joe Stark sculptures. People seemed to be enjoying lunch in the park and strolling by the river. There were also lots of small children happily playing on the equipment. So much life by the river ... things were certainly bustling. In 1964, most of the activity took place by the beach or over at the Roller Rink near Shaws Bay!
 
The luxury and outlay of the Ramada apartments was particularly impressive. I enjoyed a spa in the late afternoon with a complimentary glass of champagne ... giddy up! The friendly Ramada staff certainly showed me a good time ... and how comfortable are lounge chairs these days ... there was even a television set in every room, with other fascinating pieces of equipment attached that I could not make head or tail of so I ended up leaving them alone! The small black box with lots of buttons on it only seemed to make things worse ...
 
Holidaying at the Ramada would be so different when compared to the tiny holiday cottages that my family used to stay in during the 50's & 60's ...the apartments were so large and very roomy. People kept mentioning the concept of 'tourism' to me over the course of today. Apparently, it is places like the Ramada that bring a different type of visitor to Ballina these days ... ones that have more money to spend so this should be good for the community? Anyway, what I do know is that some of the cameras that I saw the tourists carrying into the Ramada were far removed from the box brownie of my day ...
 
The fashions and hairstyles of 2006 have me quite amused and in awe so far! Some actually still look like they're straight out of the 1960's whilst others are so entirely different that they have my head spinning!
 
I am looking forward to what tomorrow holds ...
 
Your truly,
 
Miss Summergirl

 
Tuesday 31st October 2006
 
My day at Ballina Fair Cinemas ...
 
 
Wow! What fabulous cinema facilities the Ballina community and visitors enjoy today ... and it appears there are some plans to potentially build on to these in the near future! What's happening in Ballina? It seems that everywhere I turn, there are plans to 'grow the town' and all that it offers ... how very exciting!
 
I will always remember the kind hospitality of Paul McGrath at Ballina Fair Cinemas. He allowed me to sift through his movie collection today and ever so patiently explained the major messages behind some of the more current films. It taught me much about the state of today's community soul. Seems it's in need of a great, big hug at times! 'Twas all so much more innocent in the 60's ... and quite a bit simpler, in fact.
 
There was certainly no poster of James Dean about the place ... but there were some very interesting looking gentlemen on a poster that advertised a movie titled, 'Boytown'. Glenn Robbins and Mick Malloy are quite different to the pin-up boys of my day ... but each to their own, I suppose! I also found the idea of boy bands a bit dated (I mean, shouldn't they be more relevant to me - my life & times?) ... but then is that their point do you think? I can't imagine that they were actually serious about those dance moves and the singing was a tad raw.
 
Speaking of 'raw', there's also a movie called 'Kenny' that's showing now. It's all about a porta-loo plumber! Apparently, people are lining up in their droves to see this flick all about sewage ... mmm ... I'm left wondering about today's society ... and Kenny?! Well ... I decided to leave him thinking that he's "pretty good at it" ... he is, afterall, a knight in shining overalls.
 
Today's exploration of the 'movie world' also made me reflect on some wonderful personal memories of the Drive-in Movie Theatres ... and of course, some of my old boyfriends! Hey ... maybe I should look them up tomorrow ... sigh ... there is so much to take in that I'm starting to feel a little tired. Early to bed for me tonight after cleaning all of that popcorn out from between my teeth ... and I might have my hair done in the morning. That should spruce me up before I roll on to the next stage of my 2006 Ballina adventure .... I only hope that more locals come up to me to say "hello" tomorrow ... I don't bite ... really, I don't!
 
Until then ...
 
Yours truly,
 
Miss Summergirl