Spring Feast Success !

We have so many people to thank for such an incredible, fun filled evening and a true celebration of community and connection.

From scrumptious food, festivities, activities, music and more we really did raise the roof with nearly 200 people to fill the hall with laughter and smiles.

Our evening started with the Wardell CORE AGM, introductions to our fabulous new team of committee members and reports on our progress, impact and financial position as we pass now 18 months since last years flood.

We were very fortunate to have had Aunty Delia welcome us to Country and special guests Tamara Smith MP, Janelle Saffin MP, Mayor Sharon Cadwallader, Cr. Kiri Dicker and representatives from the Ballina of Richmond Rotary Club, Col Lee OAM and Julie Lee OAM.

So much gratitude to every who helped, turned up and turned it on!

Special thanks to every one of the amazing volunteers who helped make this significant event a success, our welcome crew, raffle ticket sellers, an epic team of full day cooking and catering, salad servers, BBQ chefs and carvery, artwork curators, table decorators, trivia preparers, cooks and bakers, bump-in and bump out, cleaners and washers. This truly was an extraordinary effort that involved so many of our members.

Another big round of applause to Jeremy West for giving us his debut quizmaster skills and entertainment and Dan Hannaford for an awesome set of lively music to help us dance the night away.

And finally to all our the sponsors and supporters who chipped in and helped make this night happen ! We are so grateful to folks home with some fantastic raffle prizes from Ballina Forty Winks, the Ramada Hotel, Koala Mattress Company, Stone and Wood Brewery, Seven Mile Brewery, Pimlico Organics and Cherry Street Butchers.

Photo credit - Tamara Smith MP a “Fabulous community gathering at the Wardell Memorial hall for the Wardell CORE AGM, with a showcase of the incredible work they have done supporting the community for the last 17 months, and a feast!”

Fitzroy Park – Playground Upgrade

Ballina Council has released a DRAFT playground plan for the upgrade of Fitzroy Park in Wardell which features the types of equipment, features, and themes that arose through consultation with a number of focus groups in the community.

The key features that were identified through the initial feedback were:

• Obstacle course

• Multi-level tower fort

• Swings

• Climbing structures

• Nature play

A narrow window now exists for the wider community to provide more feedback and suggestion before the project to upgrade the playground is progressed further.

Feedback regarding this draft playground design will need to be submitted by 4:30pm on Friday 15 September 2023.

If you have any enquiries regarding this matter, you can contact Ballina Councils Landscape Architect, James Norton directly on 1300 864 444 or by email openspaces@ballina.nsw.gov.au

For convenience we will be collecting, suggestions and feedback from community members via this form and delivering all responses to James at Open Spaces as a single document.

A more detailed diagram and design draft can be read here

Spaces still available for this weekends eco-adventures

CALLING ALL YOUTH AGES 10 AND OVER !

We have a great program running this weekend with field trips planned to explore our regions river health.

Saturday or Sunday. Lunch and snacks included.

If you have a budding young scientist, naturalist, outdoors enthusiast, environmentalist or any keen fishers in your family we will be taking a trip to explore different eco-systems and understand the health of the Richmond River.

1. Confluence of Richmond and Wilson Rivers

2. Tuckian Nature Reserve - wetland environments

3. Killen Falls - drinking water catchment

4. Coastal estuary - where the River meets the Sea

To get involved book your spos. Email or DM for info, or drop into to Wardell CORE. We will need, names and contact numbers and parents to sign excusion forms.

Parents are welcome to join us for the adventure.

This program is run in conjunction with the amazing team at OzGreen and supported by the NSW Department of Regional Youth.

Book your spot now

Eat Well Wardell

What do people think ? 5/5 Stars

With the cost of living getting more expensive every day this is such a big help. The produce is fresh and a good mix of the basics. Thank you for this service

We now have nearly 60 families dropping in to get fortnightly fresh produce through our buyers group.

Head to the Wardell CORE website [https://www.wardellcore.community/eat-well-wardell] to order

Produce bags come in three sizes for different family sizes and we offer costs recovery at a sliding scale so you can opt to pay at a rate you can afford.

If you can’t order online - drop in to the hub and we can take your order.

Weekly Meditation

Every Saturday morning at 7am we gather for meditation and practice some mindfulness exercises at Wardell CORE.

We are fortunate to have the guidance of local and long term mediation practitioner Denis who offers us a weekly mantra for positive inner dialog.

This activity is for all ages and stages. Feel free to join in if you are an experienced and avid meditation practitioner, just starting out or even just curious.

Join this group and share a cup of tea and a chat with others who are learning to find space in the mind and quieten daily stress and anxiety.

What is natural disaster fatigue?

Michelle Henry, Counsellor - Wardell Wellbeing Team

Natural disaster fatigue, also known as disaster burnout or disaster fatigue syndrome, can occur when individuals and communities are exposed to or affected by natural disasters or related stressors over an extended period. It can manifest as physical, emotional, and psychological exhaustion.

Read here for the 10 signs of natural disaster fatigue and what you can do to address them

Wardell Community Courts

Update

The community courts are on track and weather permitting are due for completion end of next week. There will be a lot of prep work to take place, but this is a small amount of pain for a massive community gain

Basketball, futsal, volleyball and tennis will soon be all activities available to Wardell and surrounding communities.

We will be hosting a family fun day soon. New members are welcome to join the club for $25 per family per year. Please email wardell2477@gmaill.com for more details.

Bring on Basketball

Get Ready Weekend

Know your risk this bush fire season.

The risk of bush fires is returning. With several years of wet weather grass and scrub has grown across NSW. Talk to your local RFS members about the likely risk of bush or grass fire in your local area.

Our local RFS branches will be opening their doors Saturday 17th September for the NSW Rural Fire Service "Get Ready Weekend"

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Meerschaum Vale RFS Station, 1004 Wardell Road, Meerschaum Vale, will be open on Saturday16th Sept from 10am to 2pm. Come along , meet with firefighters, locate your property, discuss bush fire preparation, pick up kits and giveaways for kids such as fire helmets, rulers and activity books.

Wardell RFS Station, 2 Cedar Street Wardell, will be open Saturday 16th September from: 10am -2pm. They will have activity bags for the kids, a BBQ, some lucky door prizes and the trucks will be out on display.

Mums support network and playgroup : Thursday mornings 9:30-11:30

Did you know we run a weekly mothers support group at Wardell CORE

It’s an open and supportive group for any new mums (and grandma's and carers too) in our region that want to have a causal catch-up, cup of tea, connection and space to chat with other mums, access wellbeing support and let their kids have a play.

If you are pregnant, a new mum, or a family with young children we meet every week on Thursdays facilitated by Michelle Henry

Join our dedicated fb group to connect with new families and parents. For more information call Wardell CORE on 0431 716 457 email wellbeing@wardellcore.community

https://www.facebook.com/groups/wardellbroadwaterbubs

Reach Out

Disasters are disruptive to one's state of normalcy, including daily routines, activities of daily living, employment, transportation, housing, and social relations.

Disasters can take a serious toll on the mental health of individuals and our communities at large. Disasters don't happen and then conclude; they are termed "disasters" because they have far-ranging and long-standing impacts on people's lives and it is well known that at a year to 18 months after a catastrophe that untreated or unrecognised trauma presents as increasing anxiety and worsening depression.

While in many instances access to help and mental health support after a disaster is often really challenging - we are fortunate to be able to offer constant and FREE support.

Wardell’s Wellbeing Program offers a dedicated space for professional counselling services and qualified mental health supporters for the community and Wardell district.

Our facilities and programs are an essential asset for our community’s recovery and mental health. We are privileged to have the support of supported by Healthy North Coast to be able to provide this safe and welcoming space and offer a range of support with our amazing team of registered counsellors and mental health workers.

We provide a drop-in centre, appointments on demand and referral services available 5 days a week.

We can also offer outcalls and outreach or consultation by phone. Our mental health services are free, discreet and confidential.

You can come and talk to our professional team at any time for help, advice or support or just drop in for a cuppa and a chat.

Drop in at any time phone 0432 563 380 or email wellbeing@wardellcore.community

Join this incredible opportunity to experience this unique and powerful program. 

We are truly fortunate to bring Breath : Cold Exposure Therapy with Benny to Wardell.

Benny is a certified Wim Hof Method Instructor and Oxygen Advantage Advanced Instructor and will be delivering a workshop based on these methods and other practices he has utilised in his career in facing emergency situations. The workshop will predominantly be a breathwork session and an ice bath session.

You will learn to utilise oxygen and cold exposure to optimise your body & mind, and the underlying physiological changes that occur during both practices. You will gain a deep understanding of stress and fear, and you will move through both of these states throughout the workshop.

For all inquires contact Michelle wellbeing@wardellcore.community

Help Get Broadwater P.S Soccer Team to Sydney!

It’s been a tough eighteen months for many of these kids, loosing both their house and school in the devastating March 2022 floods.

They certainly are resilient and against all odds have managed to make it to Sydney for the PSSA Soccer Semi Finals.

Can you help them out??

https://www.gofundme.com/f/get-our-soccer-team-to-sydney