Learn about Our House appeal

THE Ballina community has been backing the Our House campaign, and locals can learn more about the project at a public meeting on April 18 at the Ballina RSL Club. 

Our House is a project to build 20 motel-style rooms across the road from Lismore Base Hospital to provide low-cost accommodation for the families of patients in the cancer and children's wards at the hospital. 

The public meeting will start at 6pm. Dr Chris Ingall, paediatrician and Our House chairman, and Rebekka Battista, fundraising coordinator for Our House and Our Kids, will outline the project and answer questions. 

The Ballina Shire Our House Appeal committee was formed last year, and involves every service club in the shire; with the view of raising $100,000 for the multi-million dollar project. 

Publicity officer for the committee, Wendy Marsh, reports that the Ballina effort has passed the halfway mark, with $58,000in the kitly so far. 

On top of the huge donation of $50,000 from the Ballina RSL Club. there has been a $1000 anonymous private donor, $1000 from North Coast Radiology, $800 from the Scope Club champagne breakfast, $503 from a private morning tea in Alstonville, ongoing service club barbecues and collections from the donation box at Dan Murphy's, West Ballina. 

Dr Lincoln Gillam, managing partner from North Coast Radiology, said: "We are honoured to be able to donate and help with this project. Our philosophy is to be involved in community events and projects, particularly those related to health." 

Meanwhile, a major raffle for the appeal was launched on April 1 at the Rotary District 9640 Conference in Yamba, with cash prizes totalling $10,000. 

Tickets are $5 each and only 6000 are available for sale. Tickets can be purchased from Ballina Shire Our House Appeal partners. McGrath estate agents in Ballina, Taffy's Shoe Repairs in Alstonville Plaza and at the Saturday service club barbecues at Dan Murphy's, West Ballina. 

The raffle will be drawn at the Ballina BowIing and Recreation Club on August 1. 

Other fundraisers for Our House include: 

- The appeal will be a beneficiary of the Alstonville Rotary Antiques and Collectables Far, May 13-15. 

- Ballina High School Leos trivia night for Our House, Ballina Bowling and Recreation Club, Monday, May 30, 6pm. Tables of six, tickets 910.00 each.

- Our House will be a major beneficiary of Ballina- on-Richmond Rotary Club's Fine Food and Wine Festival on Sunday, May 29.

- Ballina Scope raffle. Tickets $2 each. On sale Thursdays outside Kmart or Big W and Fridays outside Beachside Bargains in River Street. Prizes include a threeday holiday for two in Cairns including airfares donated by Ballina Cruise & T?avel. Tickets drawn 3pm, June 30, at Ballina Cruise & Travel. 

The Ballina Advocate, Thursday, 14 April 2011