communityconnect
L E N N OX H E A D
TRACEY’S FUNDRAISING BRINGS ROSS PARK CAROUSEL TO LIFE A key feature of the upcoming Ross Park redevelopment will be the new all-ability, wheelchair accessible carousel in the playground. Lennox Head resident Tracey Everingham Armstrong has been the incredible driving force behind including this piece of equipment in the design for Ross Park. A former Ballina Shire Citizen of the Year (three times nominated), Tracey has been fundraising for our community for more than two decades. She’s raised close to $480,000 to date, which has been donated to a variety of community groups and disability organisations. Some of Tracey’s bigger projects have included raising $68,000 towards purchasing a bus for Southern Cross School disability unit and $64,000 towards a bus for Biala Support Services, with Variety the Children’s Charity providing the rest of the funds. She’s also raised $19,600 to provide mobility matting for Northcott Disability Services (housed at the Ballina Surf Club) and $35,000 for the Liberty Swing at Missingham Park. Tracey raised the $30,000 needed to purchase the all-ability carousel for Ross Park through two Melbourne Cup fundraisers (2018 and 2019) and a 100s Club raffle, where the prize was a surfboard signed by every surfer who attended the World Surf League. Tracey says she could not have achieved any of this without the amazing support of the Lennox Head community. “The community has been outstanding in always supporting me and my functions. I’ve always said that the community are the cogs in the wheels that run my engine room,” she says. “I’ve always known that there was a need in the community to help people with a disability. I first heard that Southern Cross High School needed a bus when I was on a Variety the Children’s Charity Bash.” The new Ross Park playground will be constructed during Stage 1 of the Lennox Village Vision project. The first stage of works will begin by the end of September 2021. Tracey has worked in a local Lennox Head business for the past 17 years, and she can see Ross Park from her workplace. She is certain the carousel will be a popular feature in the new playground. “I purchased the carousel in March this year so it’s ready to go. I can’t tell you how excited I am, I can’t wait to see it go in. I hope this brings much joy to everyone in the community, not just those with a disability.”
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