Forty community groups will pack into the Lennox Head Cultural Centre on Saturday, 29 August, as the Ballina Shire Community Connections Expo returns for its second year, this time as a single, shire-wide event.
The free expo, running from 9am to 12pm, gives residents the chance to meet local clubs, volunteer organisations and support services all in one place. B Ward Ballina Shire Councillor Kiri Dicker, who established the event and now runs it alongside fellow Councillor Michelle Bailey, said this year’s expo has been brought to one central location so it can reach a bigger crowd.
Cr Dicker said the idea for the expo came after a wave of local groups struggled to keep their doors open.
“We started it because we just had this one year where the CWA Lennox Head Branch closed down,” she said.
A number of other organisations were also closing due to a lack of volunteers and members at the time, prompting Cr Dicker to act.
“The first one went really well, and we just thought it was really good,” she said.
Cr Dicker said the expo has also become a chance for councillors to collaborate outside the council chamber.
“It’s good to have an opportunity for councillors to sort of work together on things,” she said. “I think the community like to see us less at each other’s throats and more working together.”
This year’s expo is at capacity, with 40 groups confirmed to attend, covering everything from chambers of commerce and historical societies to animal welfare groups including the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, and social support services such as local hot meal centres and Orange Sky Laundry. Rotary clubs and environment groups are also expected, along with a smaller number of sporting clubs.
With the group list now full, Cr Dicker said the focus has shifted to getting residents through the door, with Council now helping promote the event more widely.
“We’re trying to promote the benefit of joining a club or community group, and how important it is to the social fabric of our communities,” she said.
The expo isn’t just for people new to the area. Cr Dicker said it’s for anyone looking to feel more connected to their community, particularly those who have recently moved to the shire or retired.
“If you’ve just moved here, it’s for you,” she said. “We tend to get an older crowd, but we’d love to see more young people there as well.”
Cr Dicker, who also works for the Northern Rivers Community Foundation, pointed to research showing that joining a club or group can have a real impact on social isolation and cohesion. She said the foundation’s own upcoming research into the community sector has found that succession is a major issue for local groups, with the same small pool of volunteers often carrying the load across multiple committees and boards.
“There’s lots of research to show that really simple actions like joining a club or a group have a really tangible effect on social isolation and social cohesion, which we know is an ongoing problem,” she said. “So the more people we can get involved, the better.”
Residents don’t need to register ahead of time and can simply walk in on the day, with the Auxiliary Hospital serving tea and scones for visitors. Cr Dicker said a single lap of the room is enough to meet all 40 groups.
“You get to meet 40 groups all in one place. It doesn’t take you very long,” she said.
“You just never know, it could be the start of a new career in croquet or chess or you may find a passion that you never knew you had.”
Like what you’re reading? Support North Coast Times by making a small contribution today and help us keep delivering local news paywall-free. Donate now