Celebrating One Year! Country & Coast Magazine By Lindsey Bidwell
Country & Coast Magazine started without any funding, grants, crowd-funding or anything else. It was a gift for our local business community to help them out of the Covid lockdown. Although I had contemplated launching a magazine, the decision was made after walking into a local shop owned by a friend. The shop owner was crying, unsure how to pay the rent, with no sales and more strict lockdown rules. It was an impossible situation, and they had no way of affording promotions to get customers back in and understand they were doing the best they could. That they were a person, up all night sick with worry, with a family to feed, staff to look after, community groups and sporting events to support. What did they cut to cover the bills and still feel positive about their life. So it may seem ridiculous given the current challenges, but I used some savings and decided to produce a magazine that cared about the community, offering free advertising to any local businesses interested, struggling, or unsure of their future. I received so many nominations for local small business; it was amazing. The community really stepped up and wanted to be involved in thanking this group of incredible business, that we are all in awe of their continuing can-do attitudes. From our second edition, advertisers generously supported the printing costs of the magazine. The magazine has grown such an incredible, loyal following, with readers and advertisers understanding the importance of local positive news. The magazine is not full of big corporate business, who could easily purchase multiple pages, but instead full of local small business owners that matter most! They support other business, our community groups, charities and sporting clubs. They also live here; they are our friends, family, neighbours, the parents volunteering at local school and community events. These are the people that matter and who we as a community need to appreciate because their job is hard, they are a tough breed, and we need to make an effort to support them in return. The businesses and individuals featured within each edition are so inspirational. I draw strength, and I hope our readers also do, from their courage and the never give up attitude that appears to resonate so strongly in our community.
6 | Community News
Museum update Alstonville Historical Society By Catherine Cohen
Crawford House Museum has a busy period ahead. The Sunday ‘Arvo program, which commenced in 2019 and was abandoned due to Covid last year, is returning at last. On June 27th at 1pm the society will hold the finals of a poetry competition for Ballina Shire school students. The ten finalists will recite their poems, which must be original and have an Aussie bush/country theme. They will be judged on content and presentation by wellknown bush poet Ray Essery (the Mullumbimby Man) and one other person, with prizes of $50, $25 and $10 for the first three place getters in both the primary and secondary sections. Entry will be $10 per person, a gold coin donation for children or $15 per family, to be paid at the gate. If this is successful, it may become an annual event. On July 25th there will be a bus trip following the Booyong-Ballina railway line conducted by Ian Kirkland, the president of the society and author of Out of Puff, which is about the line. The trip will follow the line and include the site of Tooheys sugar mill and the Booyong Nature Reserve, the largest flooded gum in the Southern Hemisphere. The tour leaves the museum at 1pm and arrives back at approximately 4pm. The cost is $20 per person or $30 including a copy of Out of Puff. To book phone (02) 6628 1829. If oversubscribed, a waiting list will be established, and a second trip may be made at another date. On August 29th at 1pm there will be an exciting afternoon of authentic Aussie bush music performed by local band Sydney or the Bush, returning by popular demand after their performance in 2019. It will be a walk back in time, as much of the music they play is around 100 years old. They will also entertain you with amazing information about the origins of the music they are performing. Entry will be $10 per person, a gold coin donation for children or $15 per family, to be paid at the gate. A coffee van will be there for refreshments. For the events at the museum, please bring a folding chair or rug and a hat, as no chairs or shelter will be provided. The society is also very excited about obtaining a grant to produce a virtual tour of the museum, which will allow it to show off some of the items in the museum and should attract more visitors. VOLUNTEERS WARMLY WELCOMED Have you thought about guiding at historic Crawford House Museum, Alstonville? The museum is open to the public twice a week and at other times for schools and tour groups. If you like communicating, are patient and have an interest in history, this is an opportunity for you to work with a passionate group and indulge yourself in the stories of the past. Crawford House Museum is located at 10 Wardell Road, Alstonville and is open Fridays 10am-4pm and Sundays 1pm-4pm. Enquiries 02 6628 1829 or www.aphsmuseum.org.au
