In Love with Broms

Darren Corbett is a patient man. He’s devoted to growing and breeding bromeliads and tropical foliage, particularly alcantarea which takes 12-17 years to fower. But when it does the spectacular fower spike can be over 3 metres tall.

Darren has worked in nurseries for 23 years, in Brisbane and the Northern Rivers. He bought his frst alcantarea from a Queensland nursery in the 1990s. He has been breeding and growing from seed and pups (offshoot plants of main bromeliad) ever since.

Darren established a nursery at his 5-acre farm at Larnook where he has lived off grid for 16 years. His tree change involves eradication of lantana and regeneration of his steep and hilly share of a community acreage. Fire is a concern.

Darren promotes bromeliad plantings under native trees as an effective frebreak.

Broms, as Darren calls them, are native to Brazil. Nevertheless he says they are ‘invaluable not only as a frebreak but for providing habitat for frogs, and nectar for bees and birds. They require few resources to maintain.’

They do require patience, however. It takes 3 to 4 years for a bromeliad grown from seed to reach a saleable size; 2 years for pups.

Aside from the challenge of destructive bush turkeys, Darren’s Broms live a serene life. With solar power and gravity fed water from spring-fed dams, the nursery only needs love and dedication.

Darren strives to breed alcantareas to be even bigger than the parent plants, and with even more vivid purple markings. Darren talks of these like a proud and loving parent.

You can fnd Darren’s Broms at the Rotary Kyogle Bazaar where he also offers gingers, orchids, cordylines, rainforest tree seedlings, and even some vegetable seedlings.

Warnings

See www.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings

Northern Rivers District:

Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower along the coastal fringe in the morning and afternoon. Winds southerly 15 to 25 km/h tending southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening.

Thursday. Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower along the coastal fringe. Winds southerly 15 to 20 km/h tending southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening.

Northern Tablelands District:

Partly cloudy. Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h. Thursday. Partly cloudy. Winds easterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the morning then becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon.

TIDES,

Ballina

New South Wales:

Partly cloudy in the northeast. Fine and mostly sunny in the west. Morning frost on and about the ranges and slopes. Possible showers about the northern coastline. Daytime temperatures slightly below average along the coast, tending slightly above average in the west. Light to moderate northeast to southeasterly winds, fresh in parts of the northeast.

Thursday. Partly cloud in the northern ranges, sunny elsewhere. Patches of morning frost about the ranges. Daytime temperatures above average in the west and south, tending near average in the northeast. Light to moderate northeast to southeasterly winds.

Byron Coast:

Winds: Southerly 15 to 25 knots turning southeasterly 15 to 20 knots during the day. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres, decreasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning. Swell: Southerly 2.5 metres, tending southeasterly 2.5 metres during the afternoon or evening. Weather: Cloudy.

Coffs Coast:

Winds: Southerly 15 to 25 knots turning southeasterly 15 to 20 knots during the day. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres, decreasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning. Swell: Southerly 2.5 metres, tending southeasterly 2.5 metres during the afternoon or evening. Weather: Cloudy.

Gold Coast Waters:

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots in the evening. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres. Swell: South to southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres inshore, increasing to 2 to 2.5 metres offshore. Weather: Cloudy.

The Minns Labor Government will invest $30 million in improving grassroots sports facilities to turbocharge the growth of women and girls sport across NSW through a brand new Level the Playing Field program.

This program will support the growth of women and girls sport in NSW after a record breaking FIFA Women’s World Cup during which the Matildas inspired the nation, and an unbelievable 12th World Cup championship win by the Diamonds at the Netball World Cup.

The Level the Playing Field program will allow grassroots sporting groups to access funding to upgrade and build sporting facilities for women and girls in their local communities.

The program is expected to fund 100 new and upgraded facilities and will contribute to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for women and girls to train and play, by delivering ft-for-purpose facilities and amenities such as change rooms, accessibility improvements, and improved lighting.

As part of the Budget, the Minns Labor Government is also delivering on its promise to support local community and school sports through a number of other initiatives.

The Football in Schools Program in Western Sydney will also receive $14.5 million, partnering with the Western

Sydney Wanderers and Macarthur FC to support local school sporting teams.

The Central Coast will receive $3.7 million to improve football infrastructure and programs.

This will include a synthetic playing feld in Tuggerah, as well as training facilities for the new Central Coast Mariners A-Leagues Women’s team. Funding for these projects will be matched by the Central Coast Mariners. This funding also includes $1 million for the Central Coast Mariners community programs for at-risk youth and disadvantaged adults.

The Budget will more than double funding for State Sporting Organisations (SSOs), such as Football NSW, from $2.45 million to $5 million in 2023-24, and $10 million in 2024-25 and 2025-26. These new agreements will include incentives for SSOs to achieve specifc outcomes in increasing female participation in their organisations and improving their governance.

Ballina Mahjong

13.10.2023

1. Lorna Simpson, 2. Carol Meyer, 3. Vanessa Reynolds, 4. Joy Lowien, 5. Pauline Kearney, 6. Wendy Thornton, 7. Sally Lowry, 8. Shirley Coleman, 9. Ann Hewitt, 10. Jan Boardman, 11. Barbara Ellan, 12. Jan Small, 13. Rosemary Ru Russell, 14. June Greenaway, 15. Ramsay Roper, Shirley Atkinson, 17. Shirley Henry, Kath Hubbard, 19. Jeanette He wood, 20. Yvonne Weddup, 21. Sarah Bull, Susan Scott, 23. Cindy Smith, 24. Pauline Bolte, 25. Jan Henley, 26. Diana Auret, 27. Pam Farrell, Susan Allan, 29. Val Heinritz, 30. Linda Lovett, Coral Lavelle, 32. Lisa Wong, 33. Valda McLerie, 34. Jeanette McGuiness, 35. Gladys D’Anna, 36. Jenny Lang.

Casino Social Golf Results

15-10-2023

The winners of social golf last Sunday was Wayne Jackson & Trevis Jenkins with a stableford score of 41. there was no putting and the players draw went to S.Shephard. Nearest to pins: 10th & 13th, R.Ruttley.11th, D.Hampson.12th, T.Hook.14th, T.Jenkins. 15th, C.Hatfeld. 16th, W.Jackson. 18th, Vinny. Next Sunday’s event sponsored by The Barn Clydesdale Motel Casino will be a single stroke on the bottom 10 holes and visitors are welcome to play with hit off from 6-30am till 7-30am.

Casino Womens Bowls Results

Wednesday 11/10

The semi fnal for the Major singles championship was played today & the results were:

C. Haynes def H. Lavelle

D. Skinner def M. Mead

C. Haynes & D. Skinner will play the fnal on Wednesday 18/10

The winners of the social games were:

J. Carthew, M. Hellyar & R. Skirrey def J. Creighton, K. McKay & I. Watson

M. Jordan & N.Moran def C. Doyle & J. Dwyer

C. Haynes. Minor Single Club Champion for 2023

CHERRY STREET CROQUET CLUB SPORTS RESULTS

ASSOCIATION

CROQUET :

S.Hume T.Hume 14 d

L.Hardy B.Hardy 10

G.Drew 15 d G.Porter 14

C.Woodlands G.Drew 21 d S.Hume T.Hume 12

G.Porter 17 d H.Young 11

RICOCHET CROQUET :

R.Chapman G.Kerr 17 d D.Scott N.Poynting 7

R.Poynting 9 d P.Scott

N.Watts 4

B.Wellings R.Allen 15 d G.Drew D.Jones 15

N.Barnes R.Poynting 9 d P.Scott N.Watts 8

H.Young D.Scott 11 d

G.Kerr N.Poynting 9

M.Field J.Hannigan 14 d M.Russell C.Lane 11.

Twilight Golf Croquet

Social Tuesday afternoons 3.30pm all welcome.

NRCA Association Tournament

30th October 5th

November

Ballina / Byron Bay. Singles ,Doubles, Handicap, Mums Cup.

David Scott Member of the winning NSW Golf Croquet Team Interstate Shield. Gold Medal NSW. Congratulations David.

Evans Head Womens Bowls

Ladies Social Day - 11-10-23 - Highest Margin - Winners - J. Beckett, A. Eyles, K. Robson, E. Gollan. First Round of Consistency Championship played 11-10-23 - P. Freeman defeated J. Fernance. K. Townsend defeated M. Gibson. Round two to be played 18-10-23.

Congratulations to our 3 Ladies who played in the District Championship - E. Gollan & K. Townsend who played in the under 5years - Erin getting into the Semi-Final. Tania Cselka was able to get through to the Final, but went down 20-25, however was still Runner/ up in the Champion of Champions in the District. Great effort Ladies

By Tim Howard

The Clarence River Cricket Association representative team has kicked off the 2023/24 season with a stunning tournament win in Coffs Harbour.

Easts skipper Shannon Conner with a 101no in game two and consistent wicket taking from his club teammate Dave Duroux, were features of the CRCA performance.

North Coast Cricket Council teams gathered in Coffs Harbour on the long weekend for the NCC Twenty/20 tournament.

The CRCA XI enjoyed the best possible start on day one of the two-day tournament.

Batting frst after winning the toss against Sawtell, John Martin smashed 67no out of the team total of 4-130 in their 20 overs.

With the ball, CRCA were devastating restricting Sawtell to 6-95 in their 20 overs.

Left-arm spinner Duroux stifed the Sawtell line up with 4-15 and had great support from Shaun Walters, who conceded just nine runs from three overs.

Pat Brophy, 1-18, from four overs and Joe Pigg, 1-4 from two overs were also among the wickets. Conner was in typically belligerent form, smashing 101no as CRCA racked up a massive 2-178.

Pigg also batted well for 48 and passed a personal milestone, hitting his frst six.

The bowlers found the going hard with Valleys piling on the pressure.

Duroux was in the wickets again, with 2-34.

Pigg, 1-10 from two, got another wicket and quickie Dylan Lucas took 1-29.

But Valleys were in the hunt until the fnal ball, fnished just shy of a win on 6-176.

There was no change of luck with the coin on day with CRCA winning the toss and batting against Coffs Colts.

Overnight rain had slowed the outfeld and created a few “interesting” spots on the wicket.

Battling a few surprises with the ball popping off wet spots, CRCA were in a spot of bother until Walters, 35 and Lucas, 24no brought the innings up to 9-116.

Duroux continued his brilliant tournament form, taking for 3-19 and Walters, 2-18 completed a good all-round double. Lucas, 2-23 and Andrew McLachlan, 2-15 from three overs kept the Colts’ response under 100.

The decisive fourth game against Woolgoolga turned into a cracking game of cricket at Woolgoolga.

CRCA’s luck at the toss deserted the team in the fnal, but CRCA found itself batting frst anyway.

Woolgoolga stunned CRCA openers with N Dosanjh taking two wickets in the frst over.

But Martin, 35, stepped up and combined with Walters, 24, to get CRCA past the century mark, fnishing 106 all out.

Conner opened the bowling and struck with his second ball of the innings.

It set the standard and his Easts team mate, Duroux, ripped through the Woolgoolga innings taking 4-12 from his four overs.

The CRCA bowlers kept a tight line on the stumps and continued to take wickets at regular intervals.

Despite Woopi closing in on the score, the CRCA felders kept their nerve and secured the fnal wicket with the score on 99.

With the fnal score line of 106 to 99 it was a low-scoring, but thrilling game of cricket that handed CRCA the tournament win.