WHAT ARE SOME CAREERS FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE GARDENING?

If you’re passionate about gardening, there are several career paths that could align well with your interests, offering opportunities to work closely with plants, design landscapes, or contribute to environmental conservation.

• Horticulturist: Horticulturists specialise in plant cultivation, genetics, and breeding. They work in a variety of settings, including botanical gardens, nurseries, and agricultural frms, focusing on improving plant growth, yield, and resistance to pests.

• Landscape Architect: If you have a keen eye for design along with a love for plants, becoming a landscape architect might be the right path. Landscape architects plan and design outdoor spaces such as parks, gardens, residential areas, and campuses, combining aesthetics with functionality.

• Garden Designer: Similar to landscape architects but often working on a smaller scale, garden designers focus specifcally on creating beautiful and practical garden spaces for private homes, public parks, or businesses.

• Botanist: Botanists study plant life at various levels, from microscopic cells to entire ecosystems. Their work can involve research, conservation, and education, contributing to our understanding of plant biology, ecology, and the impact of climate change on vegetation.

• Arborist: Arborists are experts in tree care, focusing on planting, maintaining, and removing trees. They work to ensure the health and safety of trees in urban and rural settings, often collaborating with municipalities and private landowners.

• Agricultural or Environmental Scientist: These scientists focus on improving agricultural practices, managing natural resources, and conserving the environment. They work on issues like soil health, water use, and sustainable farming methods.

• Florist: Florists work with fowers, creating arrangements for occasions such as weddings, funerals, and celebrations. This career combines creativity with a knowledge of plant care.

• Nursery or Greenhouse Manager: Managing a nursery or greenhouse involves overseeing the cultivation and sale of plants and fowers. This role requires a blend of botanical knowledge, business acumen, and customer service skills.

• Landscaper Tradesperson: Landscape tradesperson execute the plans designed by landscape architects or garden designers. This hands-on career involves planting, building hardscape, and installing irrigation systems.

• Gardening Coach or Educator: If you enjoy sharing your love for gardening with others, consider becoming a gardening coach or educator. This can involve teaching gardening classes, writing articles or books, or running workshops. Each of these careers offers a unique way to engage with your passion for gardening, whether your interests lie in the artistic, scientifc, or educational aspects of plant cultivation and landscape design.

Death Notice

Yvonne Thelma Griffiths

23.09.1934 - 01.04.2024

Passed away at Bupa Ballina (formerly of Kyogle). Will be sadly missed by family, friends and staff. Gone from our sight but never from our hearts.

Privately cremated.

Funeral Notice

John ‘Peter’ Mazzer 08/06/1932 – 04/04/2024

John (known as Peter) passed away at Ballina District Hospital on ursday, 4th April 2024 surrounded by his loving family. Peter was the devoted husband of Shirley for 63 years.

Dearly loved father of Stephen, Karl, Richard, Allan (dec), Roger and their wives/partners.

Much loved grandfather of 10. Great grandfather of 16.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Requiem Mass for the repose of Peter’s soul to be held at St Carthage’s Cathedral, 8 Leycester Street, Lismore on ursday, 11th April 2024 commencing at 10am followed by burial at the Lismore Lawn Cemetery, Lismore, Skyline Road, Goonellabah.

Peter’s service will be livestreamed please refer to Parkview Funeral Home website for details

Funeral Notice

Funeral Notice

SMITH Esme Joy

Passed away peacefully April 5, 2024 of Alstonville.

Loving Daughter of Reg and Lil (both Dec), Sister of Faith, Molly Gilmore (Dec), John (Dec), Robyn Lane and Bob.

Will be sadly missed by all her relatives and friends Aged 91 Years “Safe

in the arms of Jesus”

Relatives and friends of Esme are invited to attend her memorial service to be held at the Richmond Chapel of Parkview Funeral Home, 21 Kalinga St Ballina on Friday April 12, 2024 commencing at 10.00am

This page is dedicated to all those that have passed

Warnings

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

Northern Rivers District: Mostly sunny. Winds southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending southerly during the day.

Thursday. Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers near the coast, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Winds southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending southerly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening.

Northern Tablelands District: Partly cloudy. Winds southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h turning southerly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning. Thursday. Partly cloudy. Winds southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the afternoon.

New South Wales:

Isolated showers about central parts of the coast, and the far southern ranges. Fine and mostly sunny elsewhere. Early frost patches on the southern and central ranges. Daytime temperatures below average, most notably across the northern inland. Southerly winds, fresh along the coast. Hazardous surf conditions possible along central and northern parts of the coast.

Thursday. Isolated showers about the northern half of the coast, and the far southern ranges. Fine and mostly sunny elsewhere. Early frost patches on the southern ranges. Daytime temperatures near or a little below average. Southeast to southwesterly winds.

Byron Coast:

Winds: SW 20 to 30 knots turning southerly 25 to 35 knots in the afternoon. Seas: 1 to 2 metres, increasing to 2 to 3 metres during the morning. Swell: Southerly 2 to 3 metres, increasing to 4 to 7 metres during the afternoon. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Coffs Coast: Winds: Southwesterly 25 to 35 knots increasing to 40 knots offshore. Seas: 2 to 3 metres, increasing to 2.5 to 4 metres during the morning. Swell: Southerly 2 to 3 metres, increasing to 4 to 7 metres during the morning. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers. The chance of a storm.

Gold Coast Waters: Winds: Southwesterly 15 to 25 knots turning southerly 20 to 30 knots during the morning. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres. Swell: Southerly 1.5 to 2.5 metres, increasing to 3 to 5 metres during the evening. Weather: Mostly sunny.

THERE was no shortage of racing action during last weekend’s Coopers Auto Service Centre supported Australian Modlites Title at Hessions Auto Parts Grafton Speedway, and it was teenage rookie Ryan Silcock who upstaged his more established rivals and came away with the Australian Title honours.

Since debuting in Modlites at the beginning of this season, the Queensland-based Silcock has shown plenty of promise, which included winning the South Australian Title earlier in the season, and the 17-year-old’s rookie season in Modlites went to another level when he drove to victory in last Saturday night’s Australian Title. Silcock was in outstanding form throughout the twonight Australian Title, where he topped the point standings on night one and then carried that form through to the second and fnal night by qualifying on pole position for the Australian Title deciding feature race and dominating the entire 25-lap journey. Despite coming out on top, Silcock was very lucky to fnish, after he was involved in an incident on lap 21 with the crashing lapped car of B-main qualifer Jacob Carlier, which caused front-end damage to Silcock’s car.

In the closing stages, Silcock’s front-end damage got worse, and he greeted the chequered fag on pretty much three wheels, after his inside front wheel had collapsed.

Despite his very best efforts, one of the event’s pre-event favourites and current NSW, Queensland and Victorian Champion in Corey Stein, who had chased after Silcock when he moved up to second on lap 16, had to settle for second, while third place on the podium was taken out by Terry Leerentveld.

The former Australian Title holder sat in second behind Silcock for the frst half of the race, before he was passed by Stein for second place. The top-fve fnishers were completed by another ex-Australian Title holder in Kyle Honour and Mitch Pammenter in fourth and ffth place respectively.

Nathan Politch, Zak Hudson, Chris Corbett, defending Australian Champion Sam Gollschewsky and Tyson Snow rounded out the top-10 fnishes in the Australian Title. In what was a solid performance, V8 Dirt Modifeds regular Chris Corbett, who was driving the Will Butler-owned car in a cameo Modlites appearance, ended up fnishing in eighth and also the highest placed NSW-based driver, after he had started on the second row. Finishing just behind Corbett, Gollschewsky had an unhappy Australian Title defence, where he had started the feature race from position nine and that was where he ended up fnishing.

The Firecracker 50 Lapper for RSA Four Cylinder Sedans was fought out on the Saturday night, and it saw the race run without a single stoppage and the win went to teenager Jeremy Wade. Brodie King was the next best in second and the only other driver on the lead lap, while third place on the podium was flled by Dallas Barnier. Nathan Harper and Kyhe MacDonald completed the top-fve fnishers. On the Friday night, Isobelle Jennar was the feature race winner in the RSA Four Cylinder Sedans, and she downed Jeremy Wade and veteran Keith Urquart at the completion of the 15-lap event. The support classes resulted in the feature races shared between Kevin Britten (V8 Dirt Modifeds), Paul Reeves (AMCA Nationals), Brock Stubbs (SSA Junior Sedans - both Friday and Saturday night), Hayden Fleming (RSA Junior Sedans) and Kaleb Daly (RSA Street Stockers). the headlining act is the annual Stocksville 100 Lapper for the RSA Street Stockers, along with the support classes of AMCA Nationals, Modlites, Production Sedans, RSA Four Cylinder Sedans and Junior Sedans Grafton Speedway would like to thank Hessions Auto Parts for their 2023-24 season support. Based in Grafton, along with their nearby Coffs Harbour location, Hessions Auto Parts stock a wide range of parts and accessories at competitive prices. To fnd out more about Hessions Auto Parts, contact them on 0266 423 085 (Grafton) and 0256 456 361 (Coffs Harbour) or visit their website at hessionsautoparts.com. au.

For more information, contact Grafton Speedway promoter Mick Corbett on 0427 310 009. You can also visit their website at graftonspeedway.com. au or LIKE them on Facebook by searching Grafton Speedway. Ryan

The eighth and fnal 2023-24 season race meeting at Hessions Auto Parts Grafton Speedway is going to be held on the Saturday night of May 25, where

Sawtell FC made a superb start to the HIT105.5 North Coast Premier League, delivering a commanding 5-1 victory over Coffs City United at Coffs Coast Synthetics on Saturday, April 6.

Persistent rain rendered every grass football feld on the Coffs Coast unusable,

Ballina Mahjong

RESULTS FRIDAY 5TH APRIL

Ballina Mahjong 5th April 2024.

Pauline Kearney 1, Lynda Lovett 2, Jan Boardman 3, Linda Lloyd 4, Val Heinritz 5, Janine Jarvis 6, Pam Farrell 7, Ramsey

Roper 8, Joy Lowien 9, Shirley Coleman 10, Lesley Richie 11, Margaret Bryant 12, Jenny Lang 13, Barbara Ellan 14, Vanessa prompting organisers to relocate the match to the all-weather surface of Coffs Coast Synthetics.

The opening goal came in spectacular fashion as Hugo Alderman (goal included, number 9) unleashed an unstoppable strike into the top corner, igniting Sawtell’s scoring spree. Coffs United Lions retaliated with a

Reynolds 15, Lorna Simpson 16, Carol Meyer 17, Jan Henley 18, Jan Small, Sally Lowry, Valda McLerie 19, Gail McDonagh 22, Susan Scott 23, Shirley Atkinson 24.

Mahjong is played on Friday at 12:30pm at the Ballina Bridge Club North Creek Road. Enquiries for new players phone Shirley on 0423384647.

CASINO RSM perfectly weighted cross from Blake Townsend, setting up Melad for a clinical volley to equalise.

With both teams displaying attacking intent, the game remained evenly poised at 1-1 after 30 minutes, with opportunities aplenty for both sides. However, it was Sawtell who seized

Womens Bowls Results

As we continue the Major Consistency Club Championship rounds, 3 more games were played & the results were:

Denise Skinner def

Tanya Maxwell

Ivy Watson def Denise Grice

Helen Lavelle def Judy Carthew

Congratulations to the winners & good luck in the next round.

Winners for the day in the initiative before halftime, as Hugo Alderman struck again to give the Scorpions a 2-1 lead going into the break.

At the halftime break, Sawtell coach Rachel Oberleuter delivered an inspiring team talk, fueling her players’ determination for the second half.

Keeden Corliss our social game were: Jan Cooke & Julie Creighton def Jan Dwyer & Mary Mead

Cherry Street

CROQUET CLUB

SPORTS RESULTS ASSOCIATION

CROQUET:

P.Hume G.Porter 19 d S.Hume G.Drew 7

RICOCHET

CROQUET:

R.Poynting D.Scott 14 d N.Poynting 13 M.Russell 14 d extended Sawtell’s advantage to 3-1 with a composed fnish, from a well worked team goal.

On the day the clocks were turned back, veteran striker Luke France turned back time to deliver vintage fnish to make it 4-1 to Sawtell.

The Scorpions sealed their emphatic victory with a ffth

C.Woodlands 6

PENNANTS:

Byron Bay 6 d Casino 4

Cherry Street 5 d Lismore 5

Alstonville 6 d Casino 4

TOURNAMENTS:

NSW Mens Golf Croquet Singles Championships: R.Fletcher1, W.Borkhardt 2, P.Landrebe 3, C.Williamson 4.

Z Division : T.Croft goal, courtesy of an unfortunate own goal by the Lions, fve minutes from full time.

With momentum on their side, Sawtell now eagerly prepares to face reigning Premiers Northern Storm next week at Toormina Oval, in what promises to be a highly anticipated encounter

1,T.Abbott 2, M.Powys 3.

Y Division : D.Scott 1, P.Freer 2, D.Woods 3, G Denyer 4. Plate Division : P.Sinclair, D.Wright, C.Cox, B.Berry.

Sunday 14th April 9am

Charity Day Ballina Hospital Auxiliary & Club 14th Anniversary Birthday combined. All Welcome.

By Tim Howard

Grafton league fans will get their frst taste of local derby passion early this season when the South Grafton Rebels and Grafton Ghosts clash in the season opener at Frank McGuren Field, Grafton, on Sunday.

The Rebels, 2022 Group 2 premiers and beaten grand fnalists in 2023 and the top four fnishing Ghosts, have built impressive playing lists in the off seasons.

For the Rebels the off season has cost them some key players, with promising teen half back Keaton Stutt, boom back rower Nick Torrens and power house centres James Torrens and Nick McGrady big losses from last year’s team.

But coach Ron Gordon has a reputation for overcoming mass departures and has lured a trump card back to McKittrick Park with the signing of former Ghosts captain coach Todd Cameron.

The signing of the hooker and goal kicker was a coup for Gordon.

“It’s great to have Toddy back.” Gordon said. “Toddy is one of the best players in the comp for the last probably 15 years.

“He’s a Rebels junior and he was always our toughest opponent as well when he played against us.

“Going back to last year, he was the difference. He scored three tries against us and, and put us away last year when we when we versed them in the frst round of the competition.”

Gordon said Cameron ftted in well with the team and had plenty to offer on and off the feld.

“The boys are just loving his company and just the experience he brings to the team,” he said.

Gordon has also lured one the stars of his grand fnal winning 2022 team, utility player Brian Quinlan, back to the club.

In the 2022 Rebels side Quinlan was an elusive winger, capable of destroying any defence. Gordon said he was now looking at playing in the centres or at lock so he could get his hands on ball more often.

He said the Rebels had also been bolstered with the signing of a trio of Kempsey players.

“A couple of my mates that I coached in the big Aboriginal knockout in October a couple of boys from around Kempsey have come up to play for me this year,” he said.

”So I’ve got Richie Roberts. He was a captain coach of Port Breakers for about six years and took them to a couple of premierships down there and we got one of his best mates Conrad Lardner is having a game with us.

“And Richard’s younger brother, Paul Roberts, came up as well.”

Gordon said the club had picked up some exciting backline players in Dean Jones and Jack Welsh.

“Jack covers a number of positions,” Gordon said. “He plays in the halves, centres, fullback. So yeah, we picked up some really good players.”

Gordon was resigned to losing Stutt to the Ipswich Jets, but thinks he could be back for the odd cameo.

The coach has also dipped into the well of juniors talent, which he said was giving him some real selection head aches.

“I’ve got young Kailyn Squires who has come up from the Under-18,” he said. “He’s beating down the door for a starting spot in the back row.

“Briany (Quinlan), he’s the same he’s back row or centre and young Jye Boehme, he’s looking fantastic too.

“He’s put on a bit of size in muscle and he’s another bloke I could play anywhere.”

And Gordon said the form of veterans Grant “Stumpy” Stevens and Hughie Stanley was also exciting.

With Roberts his frst choice lock, Gordon said it was time for Stevens to move to the front row, where his size and defensive technique would be best utilised.

“He took that time off to go and get his body right and he killed it all through the pre-season,” Gordon said.

“When we trialled against the Belambil, he played the full the full game at front row and he was instrumental in that game.”

And he was looking forward to seeing what Stanley would do on the right edge this season, with Cameron feeding him the ball.

“It seems everyone we seem to put out there with Hughie, he seems to turn them into superstars,” he said.

“I think Hughie will have another big season. He will have a lot more time on his hands now with Toddy on his inside shoulder.”

Gordon said he has experimented with players in different position during the trials, but to test his squad’s fexibility, but expected players to return to more accustomed roles for Sunday’s season opener. Exciting fullback Keiron Johnson Heron had played halfback in the trials and Boehme had slotted in at nicely at fullback, which Gordon said had given him confdence that players could cover different roles if needed.

This and the different and the depth in the club has pleased him more than anything in the build up to the season.

“Including the ladies tackle team we had we had more than 80 people out training on Tuesday night, our frst night back at McKittrick Park, “ he said

“I think I trained a squad of 19 frst graders and there were two blokes that were absent on the night, with apologies.

“Reserve grade had around about 24 players and I think the 18s were sitting just under the 20 mark;.

“It looks like there’s there’s a bit of depth there so that’s what we lacked last year.

He said playing a local derby frst up would be good for the club, although injuries from a such a physical encounter early on could be a problem.

The Ghosts, have also rung the changes in the off-season.

The captain coach for 2023, rugged forward Adam Slater has become club president, allowing gun centre Dylan Collett to take over the captain coach’s role.

Slater said he would continue to play for the Ghosts, but decided it was time to get more involved in the club’s administration.

He said the Ghosts would miss a player of Cameron’s ability, but at this stage of his career you had to honour his wishes.

“He wanted to have a last season with the club where he was a junior and you have to respect that,” he said.

“Todd has been a champion player with the Ghosts and someone everyone looked up to.”

But the Ghosts have returned the favour, signing exciting half, Jordan Gallagher, who was voted the 2022 Best Player in the Clarence for his role in helping the Rebels to a premiership.

Slater said Gallagher and exciting Burleigh fullback Toby McIntosh were two of the most exciting additions to the lineup[.

McIntosh, who has proved a try scoring wizard in the Q Cup, will be help correct the Ghosts most glaring defciency from 2023, getting across the tryline.

Although they fnished third on the competition ladder, the Ghosts had a negative for and against record, only scoring two more points for the season than last-placed Sawtell.

“We knew we had to do thing differently and have been focussing on those aspects of our game,” Slater said.

But he pointed out that Collett, with 15 tries for the season, was secondtop tryscorer in Group 2, behind Woolgoolga’s Sione Fangupo.

“With Toby coming into the team it will take some of the pressure off Dylan and give defenders some other players to worry about,” Slater said.

He said Cooper Woods would swap the 1 jersey for the 7 and Gallagher would play at fveeighth.

Slater said the club now had more depth in the halves than for a number of seasons with players like Wirri Boland and Tom Bowles also capable of stepping up if needed.

“We’ve got players like Oliver Percy and Cameron Winters committed for the season, which is pleasing for the club,” he said.

Slater said the Ghosts had kept most of their players from last season, but were delighted with numbers turning out in the lower grades and ladies teams.

“You’ve got to give credit to reserve grade coach Mal Scott for what he’s done this season,” he said.

“We really struggled in reserve grade last year and that put a lot of pressure on us in frst grade.

“Mal’s got the numbers up in the squad and we’ve got a group of players who are looking to play in the top grade.

“That’s great for us, because we know we have to keep performing to stay in frsts and if someone’s injured we have a player who can slot in to replace them.”

Slater said the Ghosts would be raring to go for Sunday’s local derby. “It doesn’t seem to matter with the Rebels how they’re going in the season, they’re always up for these games,” he said.

“To me they are one of the highlights of the season and you always look forward to them.”

He said the club’s season launch on Saturday, with former Kangaroo and Manly forward Brett Kite as guest of honour had primed the players.

“Hearing the stories Brett has to tell about the game gets the blood pumping and makes you realise why you love playing the game so much,” Slater said.

Sunday’s local derby will be played at Frank McGuren Field, Grafton. Play begins at 12.10pm with women’s tackle game. First grade is scheduled to kick off at 2.40pm.

The 2024 community football season offcially kicks off across the northern NSW region this weekend, with another 10,000 free footballs to be distributed to entry-level MiniRoos players.

The partnership between Northern NSW Football and Newcastle Permanent has supplied more than 125,000 free footballs to MiniRoos players since 2008 as well as vital football equipment to clubs across the seven member zones.

Newcastle Permanent will proudly continue as NNSWF’s major partner of community football for a 17th year.

The community football season starts across Football Far North Coast, North Coast Football, Football Mid North Coast and NNSWF - Northern Inland member zones this weekend.

Community football kicked off across the Hunter region with the start of the Zone Football League competition a fortnight ago.

Registrations have soared across northern NSW this season, with an incredible 53,990 participants registered as of 2 March. This number represents a 12 per cent increase compared to the same time last year, making 2024 the biggest year for football in the region ever.

Female participants make up 15,323 of total registrations, or 28 per cent. This is a 22 per cent increase on the same time last year.

Northern NSW Football CEO Peter Haynes said Newcastle Permanent were a valued, long-term major partner.

“We are thrilled that Newcastle Permanent will continue as our major partner of community football,” Haynes said

“This partnership has been ongoing for almost two decades now and in that time Newcastle Permanent’s support has ensured that the region’s largest sport remains affordable, fun and safe.

“We saw record participation rates across the region in 2023 and incredibly we have broken that record again so we look forward to another fantastic year of football. We wish every player, coach, match offcial and volunteer all the very best for the season ahead.”

Newcastle Permanent Chief Distribution Offcer Paul Juergens said that 2024 would be another fantastic year for grassroots football.

“Being involved with an organisation that promotes teamwork, social connections and physical activity makes this partnership with Northern NSW Football a very proud one for us,” Juergens said.

“With more than 125,000 free footballs distributed to entry-level players through this partnership, we know there are so many more kids who can experience the simple joy of having a kick around with their mates.

“We’ve been supporting Northern NSW Football since 2008 and we’re looking forward to another spectacular season in 2024.”

Newcastle Permanent also holds the naming rights to senior community football grand fnals across Northern NSW Football’s seven member zones, NNSWF’s Primary School Gala days and NNSWF’s Junior Development League as part of the partnership.

Aidan Arnison is a 17 year old, year 12 boy at Evans River K-12 school. He has been swimming competitively since he was 7 years old for local club Richmond Valley, Lismore, and now Alstonville. He represents the school at the state level, reaching the All Schools championships last year. Next week he will compete at the Australian Age and Open National Swimming Championships on the Gold Coast. Aidan will compete in the 50m backstroke where he is currently ranked 7th in the State and 18th in Australia for his age. In the Open event he will get the chance to swim beside Olympians as the top 53rd qualifer in Australia. In the 100m backstroke Aidan is currently ranked 4th in the State and 12th in Australia, for his age.

Aidans goal is to push hard to better his Personal Best times and trains 5-6 pool and 3 gym sessions each week, to hone his skills, and build on his strength and ftness, so be rewarded by moving up the rankings.

Aidan is a highly motivated young man who has also managed his HSC studies, working at Wurlitzer Bakery in Evans Head, purchasing his frst car, surfng, basketball, touch football, socialising and OP shopping!

After a few tough COVID-19 and food-affected years

Byron Magpies AFC is celebrating the club’s 40-year anniversary in 2024.

The club returns to the Gold Coast-based QFA Division 2 South Competition in season 2024, after winning the 2023 men’s premiership in the NSW AFL North Coast competition, under the guidance of coach and former AFL star Andrew Swallow.

That was the eighteenth men’s premiership in the club’s history, to go with two women’s premierships.

The women will also return to the Gold Coast in 2024 after playing in the AFL North Coast in 2023. They will compete in the QFA Women’s Competition.

Club president Nick

Rojo said the Magpies had come a long way to recover from the COVID disruption and the 2022 food in which the club lost playing kits and other assets, players suffered hardships, and the club was forced to shut down due to border closures while on top of the ladder.

“We’ve had to rebuild the club from the ground up, which we have managed to do thanks to the dedication and passion of our committee, players and volunteers,” Rojo said.

“The 40-year anniversary is a great way to celebrate the resilience and community spirit of our region. We might get knocked down, but we’re never out.

“To attract an elite football person like Andrew Swallow and win the premiership last year was fantastic reward for effort. We’re so excited to rejoin the QFA and can’t wait to see what the future brings for Australian Football in this region.

“Andrew has been instrumental in forging a strong connection between the senior club and our juniors. There are a lot of kids who love footy in Byron Bay and surrounds and we look forward to seeing them progress to senior men’s and women’s football in coming years.”

As part of the 40th anniversary celebrations, the club is encouraging former players to get down to home games and reconnect with the club.

The women’s team will play its frst home game at the Cavanbah Centre on 13 April, while the men’s frst game at the Cavanbah will be on 18 May.

“Because we’re entering a joint venture men’s team with Ballina (to be known as the Southern Stingrays), half our men’s home games will be at Ballina’s Fripp Oval,” Rojo said.

“Our frst home game down there is in Round 1 on the 6th of April, and we’d love to see as many former players either there or at the Cav for the women the next week. Or both.

We really encourage all ex-Magpies and all footy lovers to come down and enjoy a great afternoon at the footy.” Each home game will have a barbecue, canteen and drinks for sale, with after-match functions at the North Byron Hotel.