Talking Destination - Fiona Barden

TALKING

DESTINATION

with FIONA BARDEN

FROM COFFS CITY COUNCIL

With the busy summer holiday season long gone, it’s time for the tourism industry to rebuild and recharge for the year ahead.

March is the month for Coffs Coast tourism businesses to get involved in a variety of activities, events and programs, from the Powering Up Your Online Presence program to hosting ECO Think Forum, a first-of-its-kind event for sustainable tourism businesses from around Australia. And it’s also time to celebrate the successes of our award-winning local businesses. 2021 NSW Tourism Awards. Coffs Coast businesses featured at the recent NSW Tourism Awards with six finalists and several award winners across 29 categories. Gold Award Winner - The Giingan Experience by BMNAC; Silver Award Winner - The Observatory Holiday Apartments; Bronze Award Winners - Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours and Coffs Skydivers; Finalists - Critters Distillery and HWH Stables. Our entire industry benefits from these incredible achievements. Congratulations and well done! Small Business and Beyond Festival. During Small Business Month, this festival for business leaders and big thinkers across the Coffs Coast, will host more than 100 local professionals for three days of inspiring sessions and networking. The program features current themes and business trends, including Mindset & Wellbeing, Sustainable Business, Place Making, Creative Industries, Entrepreneurship and Regional Connectivity. The Small Business and Beyond Festival speakers include trailblazers making significant waves within the changing world of business. All taking place in Coffs Harbour, March 30 - April 1. See 6degreesco.com.au for details. ECO Think Forum. The team at Destination Coffs Coast is thrilled to be co-hosting Ecotourism Australia’s inaugural ECO Think Destination Forum happening at Aanuka Resort on March 23 and 24. The event aligns seamlessly with the Coffs Coast’s recent announcement as the first and only ECO Destination in NSW. The forum features an exciting line-up of speakers from Tourism Australia, TRC Tourism and NSW National Parks & Wildlife. Power Up Your Online Presence. Council’s Industry & Destination Development team are partnering with industry experts for a FREE digital marketing program for businesses on the Coffs Coast that are part of our visitor economy – tourism operators, accommodations, hospitality and retail. The program is committed to helping businesses stay up-to-date with trends and the technology needed to engage with visitors. The program is coordinated by digital specialists Tourism Tribe and involves coaching sessions, workshops and access to ongoing online support. Motel Reimagining Project. Coffs is fortunate to be home to dynamic design duo, Peter Rektor and Robyn Trelore, from Designfocus. New to the region, they have a wealth of international experience in ‘reimagining’ accommodation businesses. This year the Industry & Destination Development team will be working with Designfocus to assist several Coffs Coast motels through a one-on-one personalised program as the first step to an accommodation refresh. The project will help business owners create something new and exciting, that visitors to the destination will love… and won’t forget! Indulge in a Weekend of Flavour. North Coast Festival of Flavour is part of a FREE Destination NSW food campaign, where local farmers, producers, restaurateurs and brewers come together to create a delicious weekend of food, fun and flavour held on March 26 & 27. Locals can choose their favourite events at www. visitnsw.com and spend the weekend exploring the tastiest trails of the Coffs Coast. The perfect reason to try something new! The Coffs Coast will continue to be among the most attractive destinations for people to visit and enjoy these programs assist to make the Coffs Coast visitor experience more enjoyable and local businesses more sustainable. For more details on any of the listed programs and events email industry@chcc.nsw.gov.au

#ECOcoffscoast #CoffsCoast #PlaceOfPlenty #OurPlaceIsGreat

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focus_interview

S T E V E N S O N

COMEDIAN

Ben Stevenson is a local stand up comedian and radio presenter who gets us laughing out loud and also manages to get us thinking at the same time, his observations on people and life are hilarious. He also runs Coffs Comedy putting on monthly shows in both Coffs and Bellingen.

Hi Ben. How did you first get into the comedy scene?

I got my start when I lived in Melbourne. I’d been orbiting comedy rooms for a while and never had the guts to give it a go. Eventually a friend of mine signed me up to an open mic night their friend ran. It was a night that booked 6 weeks in advance. I probably slept 3 hours those entire six weeks.

When the MC called my name, I was so sure I’d pass out. Luckily, I got enough laughs to not be scared off. I learnt very quickly though that when the MC tells the audience it’s your first time, they’ll laugh at almost anything. The audience at my second gig were not as encouraging, but I stuck with it.

As a comedian you have to keep the audience engaged at all times. How do you come up with new material?

Unlike music or theatre, the only way you can rehearse is with an audience so it’s a lot of trial and error. I write down anything that pops into my head that makes me chuckle and try to recreate that moment with an audience. Sometimes you don’t get why it’s funny and it doesn’t translate at all. Sometimes you miss the mark completely. Every so often you nail it. There’s no rush quite like a new joke killing.

When was that “uh huh” moment when you knew that this would be a life passion and career?

I distinctly remember my dad driving me and some friends home from the movies, we were 10 years old, and he was cracking all these dirty jokes. My friends were in the back seat in hysterics the whole ride home. It stuck with me how amazing it is that you can conjure that kind of emotion out of someone. I didn’t know you could do it as a job at that point, but since then I was always attempting to make people laugh.

Who makes you laugh and why?

People in general, we’re such a bizarre species with so many strange rituals and habits. We take ourselves so seriously but we’re incredibly silly when you stop to look at us.

How would you best describe your shows?

It’s just one man with his back against the wall, swinging wildly at the world. I get caught up in the lack of fairness in life, so I always try and make fun of people in positions of power. My favourite bits are the ones that take things that upset me or anger me and laugh at them, it takes away the power that those things have over you.

What’s the process of putting a show together like?

Stressful! Most gigs involve a various lineup of comedians, so it’s a shared responsibility to not ruin the audience’s night, but with a solo show it's all on you. You have to back yourself. People also tend to buy their tickets last minute, which means sometimes you’re not sure if you’re performing to 5 or 100 people until just before a show. Buy your tickets early people! Buy tickets for your friends as well come to think of it.

What are some of the most memorable gigs you’ve performed?

The gigs that stay in my memory strongest are the train wrecks. Gigs where the audience didn’t know comedy was about to start and you’ve interrupted their dinner, gigs where the microphone cuts in and out, gigs where the air conditioning is 10 times louder than you, or gigs where they’ve decided as a group that they just don’t like you. Dying in the arse is part and parcel of live comedy and as terrible as you feel at the time, they’re the ones you learn from the most and it makes you a stronger performer, so I’ve learnt to embrace it when it happens.

I have been lucky enough to tick off some bucket list items in my career too. I was invited to perform at the Lighthouse for Darwin Festival, it’s a gorgeous outdoor pop-up venue they set up in the middle of the dry season. The whole park is filled with fairy lights like it’s some sort of magical forest from Fern Gully, and they let me on stage to tell dick jokes which was very kind of them. I also got to open for Tony Martin, who was my sole inspiration for wanting to work in radio. They say don’t meet your heroes, but he was so lovely, and hilarious. If I had a time machine, I’d go back 10 years just to blow younger Ben’s tiny little mind by telling him about that gig. Might mention Bitcoin as well...

A lot of readers will know you from morning radio, how does doing radio compare to performing in front of a live audience?

There is very immediate feedback with a live audience. You’re rarely wondering how they feel about you, which is either terrifying or comforting depending

My favourite on the night. bits are the With radio your ones that take things words have so much that upset me or anger me and laugh more power, so you have to be responsible with what you say. at them, it takes You can be very away the power that cheeky with live those things have comedy and get away over you. with a lot, but with radio your reach is much more significant. I was able to launch a podcast about the Coffs housing crisis and bring attention to the lack of action from our local government in addressing the affordable housing shortage. (They still haven't done much though so maybe it didn’t work.)

What would be your dream comedy gig?

To be invited to perform on Late Night with Conan O’Brien back when he had a talk show. It was where I watched a lot of stand up as a kid.

How can people best stay updated on your upcoming events?

I’m on Instagram @benstevensoncomedy and I also run @CoffsComedy, with regular gigs in Coffs and Bellingen. I’m also performing my solo show at Newcastle Fringe on March 19th, so if you know anyone in the area, please tell them to buy tickets (early, and for their friends too).

This year marks 100 years of the NSW Country Women’s Association. Many know the CWA for their craft and baking skills but may not realise how influential they have been in making changes over the years for the benefit of the community, particularly for women and families. We spoke to Urunga Branch President Margaret Grice-Little about her experience as part of the CWA.

Hi Margaret. How long have

you been involved with the CWA?

I became interested in the CWA when I moved from Sydney into Urunga in the early 1990s. A close family friend, Mrs Daphne Williams whetted my appetite with stories and photos of what the girls had been up to. Daphne was a Bellingen Citizen of the Year in 1997, and by the time I joined she was our branch patron. What fascinated me about the organisation more than their baking and craft has been their advocacy for improving the welfare of country women, families and children. As I was a teacher I didn’t get an opportunity to attend their day time meetings until I took some leave in 2007. I joined a fair while later but the then President Mrs Elizabeth (Betty) Cornwall’s son was a neighbour and friend so I continued to learn about the role of the Branch in our town. I have been a member since 2008 making this my 14th year.

Can you tell us about your role with Urunga CWA?

I have been Branch President for the past 4 years. Prior to that I was Branch Secretary for 3 years and for several years before that, I was our International Officer.

What sort of things does the group do on a regular basis?

Our branch meets every Friday for craft and, before Covid, a cuppa. We are very fortunate that we have many talented patchworkers and quilters who now meet every Monday. We have hosted the Department of Health’s Mother and Babies Clinic each Monday for the last 7 years. The Department of Health also runs immunisation clinics on the third Thursday of each month. We hire our rooms out to the local community when the need arises.

We have an artists’ group who travel from all over the east coast to stay in Urunga and they use our rooms for their week-long painting workshop. We currently have a Book Club which meets on the last Wednesday of each month. We have a stall at Urunga Riverside Markets 6 times a year.

The CWA has been involved with many community projects and initiatives over the years, what are some that stand out to you?

It is so sad one of our older members is not here to answer that question. In the past the CWA hosted Balls, special events and markets. The older girls were regularly called on to provide food for community events which were held in the

Literary Institute. We are in the process of developing an intergenerational community garden in the space behind our rooms. If we are successful we will be the first Branch to establish and maintain a community garden. Our design features a bush tucker garden, and hard paths to allow for people on walkers and mopeds. We are working closely with our neighbour the preschool and we have been seeking sponsorship from the community.

What is something people may not know about being a member of the

CWA?

At our Garden Party on Monday 14

February to mark the first centenary of the CWA, Anne Rehwinkel the Group

President for the North Coast listed simple achievements like the white line on the side of our highways, helmets for motorcyclists, seat belts in cars to name a few. It is championing equality for women in the bush to share the same amenities as city girls like mother and baby clinics.

The CWA is celebrating 100 years this year. How have you celebrated that milestone and what are your hopes for the future of the CWA?

As I said previously we hosted a garden party. Following that we broke ground and planted citrus trees at the front of the room. This is to let the community know our community garden is more than a dream and we will be working with the community to establish. We chose citrus for our jam making and pickling projects.

My hope for the future is that younger women and girls will see the relevance of an organisation run by women (with some assistance from men) that will lobby governments to improve outcomes for women such as the issue of homelessness for older women. To support an organisation which tirelessly raises funds for bushfire relief, drought relief, medical research into women’s diseases like ovarian cancer where the funds are directed without additional imposts placed on the amount raised.

Could you tell us a bit about the history of the Urunga CWA?

Urunga Branch has an amazing history. Since 1923 there had been a group of people led by Mrs Wilson who ran balls and other events to raise money for the Raleigh Hospital in Bellingen. The CWA had only been established 8 years earlier. On Valentine’s Day 1930 a meeting of local citizens was held at the Ocean View Hotel. We do suspect it was in the Ladies Lounge. From this meeting a committee was formed with Mrs Wilson elected as President. We have Mrs Wilson’s correspondence which shows that the members continued to support the hospital with a Linen party one year. This involved CWA members donating linen to the hospital due to the hospital having no availability of these items. Also individual families approached the CWA

On Valentine’s with issues about sick children who needed

Day 1930 a medical treatment and helping unemployed meeting of local fathers. Remember this was a time before citizens was held at the social security system we enjoy today. the Ocean View Our Branch has been in awe of Mrs Wilson’s Hotel. We do suspect achievements which include founding it was in the Ladies Bellingen Branch, gifting land to Glenreagh Lounge. From this to build their rooms on, as well as becoming meeting a committee was formed with Mrs a life member 4 years after establishing our Branch. Mrs Wilson also travelled to England by ship to represent the CWA of NSW before Wilson elected as WW2. This is why the garden project is now President. known as “The Mrs Wilson Community Garden Urunga.”

What would you say to any local women thinking of joining?

If you like to spend time with talented and creative women, who share a vast range of talents, knowledge and experience, what are you waiting for? Please come to the rooms at 35 Morgo Street, Urunga on a Monday from 9ish to 12 or on Friday and introduce yourself.